Democracy and the energy transition; Exploring the energy transitions’ potential to further democratize the Dutch society.

Abstract

Energy systems are not merely technological systems distributing energy, but rather socio-energy systems due to their ability to (re)distribute sociological matters. The energy transition changes the composition of conventional socio-energy systems into decentralized, more fragmented ones within the Dutch society. Democracy is assumed to be the best form of political arrangements because of its intrinsic strengths and instrumental value to any society. Three mainstream conceptions of democracy, being the aggregative, deliberative and competitive, interpreted the fundamental ideal of people having the ruling power differently. But all regard self-government among political equals as the underlying principle of democracy. Climate change mitigation -regarding some- demands freedom impeding measures, infringing upon the democratic ideal of self-government among political equals. The argument is that the energy transition is able to do the opposite by democratizing the Dutch society. Albeit depending heavily on the willingness of the public and institutional arrangements, citizenship will shift from an act of self-centred agency towards public minded agency and the influence of actors within socio-energy systems decreases. Hence, decisions taken are to advance the common good in the equal interest of all, thereby democratizing the Dutch society.