Elements of power: Material-political entanglements in Australia's fossil fuel hegemony

Elements of power: Material-political entanglements in Australia's fossil fuel hegemony

Title	Elements of power: Material-political entanglements in Australia's fossil fuel hegemony
Authors/Contributors	Hamilton, Olivia (Author) Nyberg, Daniel (Author) Bowden, Vanessa (Author)
Publication Title	Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space
Date	2023-02-27
Abstract Note	Anthropocentric climate change presents an existential threat through impacts such as rising sea levels, effects on agricultural crops and extreme weather events. However, governments, businesses and communities struggle to wean off fossil fuel dependency. In this article, we argue that this is due to the grip of fossil fuel hegemony. To explain this grip, we draw on the theoretical perspectives of new materialism to examine how fossil fuels and politics interact in upholding Australia's fossil fuel regime. Our analysis, based on 70 qualitative interviews conducted with politicians and political advisors, fossil fuel executives and experts and environmental activists, shows three processes – establishment, entrenchment and encroachment – through which political-material entanglements lock in a fossil fuel-based future. These processes are both discursive, with politicians and industry downplaying, if not outright denying, the climate emergency and material, with investment in new mines and infrastructure even while the negative ecological impacts of fossil fuel use gather pace.
Resource Type	Journal Article
URL	https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/25148486231159305
DOI	10.1177/25148486231159305
Citation	Hamilton, O., Nyberg, D., & Bowden, V. (2023). Elements of power: Material-political entanglements in Australia’s fossil fuel hegemony. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, 25148486231159304. https://doi.org/10.1177/25148486231159305
Link to this record	http://ikbe-library.unimelb.edu.au/bibliography/ULU9HYM8/

Title

Authors/Contributors

Hamilton, Olivia (Author)

Nyberg, Daniel (Author)

Bowden, Vanessa (Author)

Publication Title

Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space

Date

2023-02-27

Abstract Note

Anthropocentric climate change presents an existential threat through impacts such as rising sea levels, effects on agricultural crops and extreme weather events. However, governments, businesses and communities struggle to wean off fossil fuel dependency. In this article, we argue that this is due to the grip of fossil fuel hegemony. To explain this grip, we draw on the theoretical perspectives of new materialism to examine how fossil fuels and politics interact in upholding Australia's fossil fuel regime. Our analysis, based on 70 qualitative interviews conducted with politicians and political advisors, fossil fuel executives and experts and environmental activists, shows three processes – establishment, entrenchment and encroachment – through which political-material entanglements lock in a fossil fuel-based future. These processes are both discursive, with politicians and industry downplaying, if not outright denying, the climate emergency and material, with investment in new mines and infrastructure even while the negative ecological impacts of fossil fuel use gather pace.

Resource Type

Journal Article

URL

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/25148486231159305

DOI

10.1177/25148486231159305

Citation

Hamilton, O., Nyberg, D., & Bowden, V. (2023). Elements of power: Material-political entanglements in Australia’s fossil fuel hegemony. Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, 25148486231159304. https://doi.org/10.1177/25148486231159305

Link to this record

http://ikbe-library.unimelb.edu.au/bibliography/ULU9HYM8/