Ethnographies of Power: A Political Anthropology of Energy

Energy-related infrastructures are essential to political organization, shaping states, international bodies, corporations, and communities. Ethnographies of Power explores how changing energy infrastructures consolidate, extend, or subvert contemporary political regimes, revealing insights into politics today.

Format: Hardback
Length: 212 pages
Publication date: 04 December 2020
Publisher: Berghahn Books

Energy-related infrastructures play a vital role in shaping the political landscape of states, international organizations, corporations, and communities. These infrastructures not only define the physical contours of these entities but also shape their material existence, as well as their perceptions and aspirations for the future.

In the field of anthropology, the study of power has long been a central focus. Ethnographies of Power takes this concept further by exploring the intricate connections between energy and political power in contemporary societies. By revisiting traditional notions of power, the book seeks to understand how changing energy-related infrastructures are implicated in the consolidation, extension, or subversion of contemporary political regimes.

Through a series of ethnographic case studies, Ethnographies of Power offers a rich and nuanced understanding of the ways in which energy infrastructures shape political processes and outcomes. The book explores how energy resources are allocated, distributed, and managed, and how these processes interact with broader social, economic, and cultural dynamics. It also examines the ways in which power is exercised and contested within these contexts, including the roles of government agencies, corporations, and communities.

One of the key insights of Ethnographies of Power is that energy-related infrastructures are not merely passive structures that exist to support political processes. Instead, they are actively shaped by and shape political processes. For example, the development of renewable energy technologies has the potential to decentralize power and challenge the dominance of centralized energy systems. However, the implementation of these technologies is also influenced by political decisions, economic interests, and social movements.

Another important theme of the book is the relationship between energy and political instability. The book argues that energy resources can be a source of conflict and instability, particularly in regions where resources are scarce or contested. For example, the conflicts over oil and gas resources in the Middle East have had significant political and economic consequences, and the development of renewable energy technologies has the potential to mitigate these conflicts and promote stability.

In conclusion, Ethnographies of Power is a groundbreaking work that offers a fresh and insightful perspective on the complex relationship between energy and political power. By exploring the ways in which energy infrastructures shape the political landscape of states, international organizations, corporations, and communities, the book provides valuable insights into the dynamics of contemporary politics. This book will be of interest to scholars and researchers in the fields of anthropology, political science, and energy studies.

Weight: 462g
Dimension: 159 x 235 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789209792