Saturday, March 15, 2014
Congressional B (Omni Shoreham)
Over the last two years the prospect of shale gas exploration and development in Europe has become highly contentious at both the national and the EU levels. The political debate has seen arguments in favour of development (framed in terms of energy security and economic development) pitted against opposing views (framed in terms of local environmental impact and climate change). Initial academic work has largely focused upon the role of the energy industry on the one hand and social movements on the other in seeking to set (or re-set) the political agenda. By contrast, relatively little attention has been paid to the way the debate has played out in party politics. Yet it is clear that the different tactics of parties in and out of government have been decisive in shaping the very different policy responses across the region. This paper compares the way in which governing and opposition parties across Europe have engaged with the issue. It also examines how these domestic political contests have shaped and been shaped by EU level discussion.
