XVII Congress of the Brazilian Studies Association

Energy security and energy transition in Brazil and Argentina

• In Event: (Un)Sustainable Development and its Representations

Abstract

This article wants to compare the relationship between energy security and the energy transition as energy policy-making priorities in Brazil and Argentina. Despite significant differences, the two countries have important similarities that are relevant to the relationship between energy security and energy transition, ranging from significant economic and political crises to abundant oil reserves, even though neither of them is primarily an oil country, and two fossil energy projects (Vaca Muerta and Pre-Sal) launched at the same time.
In comparing Brazil and Argentina, this article would like to focus on the period 2010-2023. The research question guiding this article wants to analyze how the relationship between energy security and the need for energy transition impacts national energy policies in Brazil and Argentina. Due to macroeconomic and political considerations beyond energy policy, the governments prioritized energy security over energy transition considerations in Argentina and Brazil between 2010 and 2023. This article follows a qualitative comparative case study design, with data collection through semi-structured interviews with think-tank-based researchers and practitioners, in addition to the data obtained from desk research. Theoretically, we draw on the political economy behind the difficulties the energy transition in Brazil and Argentina is facing, emphasizing institutionalist perspectives - such as Kathryn Hochstetler (2020) in the case of Brazil, and Barrera et al. (2022) in the case of Argentina.

Authors

• Florian Zschoche, Universität Wien

• Nikola Jokanovic, University of Hradec Kralove