Wind power has expanded quickly in Brazil, while solar power lags there and both wind and solar power have struggled to take off in South Africa. Professor Kathryn Hochstetler argues that four different political economies – climate change, industrial policy, consumption and distribution, and siting – help account for energy transition. However, coalitions are being built on each of these at the same time, potentially interlocking to reinforce or counter-balance each other.

Professor Kathryn Hochstetler, LSE, examines how these processes work in Brazil and South Africa to create distinct national political economies of energy transition.

Kathryn Hochstetler is Professor of International Development at the London School of Economics

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