The Making of the International Solar Alliance: India's Moment in the Sun

This book provides an empirical account of the making of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), an international organization focused on solar energy. It explores why India was successful in bringing together countries from solar-rich regions, despite having no competitive advantage in solar manufacturing or technologies. The book analyzes the motivations behind India's leadership in the ISA, the treaty structure chosen, and the transaction costs involved in bringing countries from both solar-rich and solar-poor regions on board. It also highlights the role of France in the treaty-making process. The book demonstrates a new approach of Indian economic diplomacy, showcasing the ISA as India's first deliberate instrument of foreign policy on climate change and energy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 21 September 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

This book provides an empirical account of the formation of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), a global initiative announced jointly by India and France during the 2015 Paris climate talks. The ISA was envisioned as a coalition of solar-rich countries located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, aiming to optimize the absorption of the sun's rays for solar energy deployment. Notably, these solar-rich countries are developing nations that experience nearly three hundred sunny days annually but face significant challenges in deploying solar energy.

In just under two years, under the leadership of India and with significant support from developing countries, the ISA emerged as a legal entity. Despite lacking a discernible competitive advantage in solar manufacturing or technologies, India's success in bringing together countries for this international organization focused on solar energy is intriguing. The book delves into answering these questions by employing a political economy approach. It presents empirical evidence and arguments through three frames: process, politics, and players.

Ultimately, the book showcases a novel form of Indian economic diplomacy, making the ISA the first deliberate instrument of India's foreign policy on climate change and energy. By examining the motivations behind India's leadership in forming the ISA, the book sheds light on the country's strategic approach to international cooperation in renewable energy. It offers valuable insights into the complexities of international negotiations, power dynamics, and the role of developing countries in shaping global climate policy.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198884705