ORIGINAL PAPER
How does a development model shape energy policy? A case of South Africa’s Just Energy Transition and the National Development Plan
1
Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Submission date: 2024-06-29
Final revision date: 2024-12-08
Acceptance date: 2025-01-07
Publication date: 2025-06-23
Corresponding author
Ndzalama Cleopatra Mathebula
Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Politics and International Relations, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Polityka Energetyczna – Energy Policy Journal 2025;28(2):151-168
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study is to thematically examine how South Africa can achieve its Just Energy Transition plan through a developmental state model. The heart of the argument reclines in assessing the country’s capacity to see through a fair and inclusive just energy transition. The capacity of South Africa to discern a just energy transition is prudently located between the type of state model South Africa (liberal and socialist state model) retains and the kind of state model (developmental state) it aspires to be through the National Development Plan. The research seeks to investigate how the two development models can either endorse or impede the country’s just energy transition strategies and thus gauge the country’s capacity to realize a just energy transition. South Africa has developed a Just Energy Transition plan to rigorously facilitate the country’s energy transition from coal to cleaner energy sources. This qualitative desktop study adopts an empirical and thematic research design. The key finding in this research suggests that development models extensively influence how an energy policy can be apprehended. Moreover, the JUST part of the transition is the most prominent factor.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The Author have no conflicts of interest to declare
METADATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Polish
Jak model rozwoju kształtuje politykę energetyczną? Przypadek sprawiedliwej transformacji energetycznej w RPA i Narodowego Planu Rozwoju
sprawiedliwa transformacja energetyczna, stan rozwoju, model rozwoju, bezpieczeństwo energetyczne, Narodowy Plan Rozwoju
Celem niniejszego opracowania jest analiza tematyczna tego, w jaki sposób Republika Południowej Afryki może zrealizować swój plan sprawiedliwej transformacji energetycznej poprzez model państwa rozwojowego. Sedno argumentacji opiera się na ocenie zdolności kraju do sprawiedliwej i inkluzywnej transformacji energetycznej. Zdolność RPA do dostrzeżenia sprawiedliwej transformacji energetycznej jest ostrożnie umiejscowiona pomiędzy typem modelu państwa, jaki RPA (liberalny i socjalistyczny model państwa) zachowuje, a rodzajem modelu państwa (państwo rozwojowe), do którego aspiruje poprzez Narodowy Plan Rozwoju. Niniejsze analizy mają na celu zbadanie, w jaki sposób te dwa modele rozwoju mogą wspierać lub utrudniać realizację strategii sprawiedliwej transformacji energetycznej, a tym samym ocenić zdolność kraju do realizacji sprawiedliwej transformacji energetycznej. Republika Południowej Afryki opracowała plan sprawiedliwej transformacji energetycznej, aby rygorystycznie ułatwić przejście kraju z węgla na czystsze źródła energii. To jakościowe badanie stacjonarne przyjmuje empiryczny i tematyczny projekt badawczy. Kluczowe odkrycie w tym badaniu sugeruje, że modele rozwoju mają duży wpływ na to, jak można postrzegać politykę energetyczną. Co więcej, część transformacji JUST jest jednym z najważniejszych elementów.
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