Policy Brief: JUSTENERGY

Intersections of far-right populism with (un)just rural energy transitions as communicative and socio-spatial practices, in Portugal

The exploratory project JUSTENERGY - Intersections of far-right populism with (un)just rural energy transitions as communicative and socio-spatial practices, in Portugal was financed by national funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (EXPL/COM-CSS/1510/2021). Its team was composed of: Susana Batel (PI; CIS-Iscte), Ana Isabel Afonso (Co-PI; CRIA – NOVA FCSH); Rita Guerra (CIS-Iscte); Luís Silva (CRIA – NOVA FCSH); Andreia Valquaresma (CIS-Iscte); Maria Alba (CIS-Iscte).

Summary

The main objective of the JUSTENERGY project was to explore the relationship between the way in which the energy transition to renewable energies is being carried out in rural territories in Portugal - for example, with the construction of mega solar power plants without the involvement of local populations - and its impact on the support of affected communities to far-right populist rhetoric. To this end, in a first study JUSTENERGY investigated how the main written press in Portugal presents the energy transition and how these discourses relate to far-right populist rhetoric. In a second study, it analysed how the green transition is being received by communities of the territories where large-scale renewable energy generation infrastructures are being built, namely Graciosa and Castelo de Vide, territories that also registered a greater presence of the far-right party Chega, in the form of a government coalition or an increase in votes, respectively, in the last elections. The project thus aimed to propose recommendations for how political decision-makers and the media can promote a fairer and more inclusive transition to green energy. In addition to disseminating the main results of the project in the media (Público, Executive Digest, Rádio Graciosa), the project team organized several debates on the results of these two studies throughout the month of November 2023.

© 2016 Project Team | Iscte

Introduction/Contextualization

Due to climate change intensification, the European Union and Portugal have been promoting the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies, implying an acceleration in large-scale energy infrastructures construction, such as wind farms and solar power plants, especially in rural territories.

Although there tends to be consensus on the transition to renewable energies, there has been local resistance to the construction of associated large-scale infrastructures. Recent critical approaches in social and human sciences argue that this opposition may be related to the contribution of these infrastructures in perpetuating social and environmental injustices and inequalities already present in the previous energy paradigm, considering that, in most cases, renewable energy projects are imposed and deployed in a technocratic way, lacking proper engagement with local communities. In this sense, there has been an increasing advocacy for a participatory and transversely fair energy transition that considers not only the global socio-environmental aspects, but also the territorial and psychosocial impacts of large-scale renewable energy infrastructures.

At the same time, the rise of far-right populism across the world, and the way in which its discourses and rhetoric are presented and spread through the media, may also have consequences for the fight against climate change. In fact, media communication plays a determining role in the way in which societal problems are represented in the public sphere. Additionally, research shows that far-right populist discourses tend to encourage denial and scepticism regarding climate change, and resistance to the energy transition. However, this area of research that explores the relationship between far-right populism and the energy transition is still incipient.

Therefore, the use of far-right discursive frames and populist rhetoric by social media may shape the ideas and practices regarding the renewable energy transition. The populist far-right rhetoric has been characterized by academic research as simplistic, provocative, and dichotomous. It can be understood along two axes: a horizontal one that promotes a group distinction between "us" and "them", based on nationalist ideas, where "them" in most cases is identified as minority and racialized groups, and "us" as the "pure people" or "the good Portuguese"; and a vertical axis that fosters a separation between "us" - "the people" - and " them " - the "corrupt elite" or the "established power."

Based on this scientific knowledge, the JUSTENERGY project aimed to explore potential relationships between how the energy transition to renewable energies is presented in major Portuguese written media, and if and how it resonates with far-right populist discourses and rhetoric; and to understand how rural communities in Portugal experience, make meaning of, and position themselves regarding large-scale energy infrastructure projects in their territories.

Approach and Results - Study 1

To explore the rhetoric used by Portuguese media to communicate the energy transition and its relationship with far-right populist rhetoric, 465 articles published between January 2020 and December 2021 were analysed from three newspapers – Correio da Manhã, Observador, and Público. In this analysis, three main themes were identified regarding the communication of energy transition:

(1) Present Portugal as at the forefront of the energy transition towards renewable energies – a representation of the energy transition as a symbol of national progress and modernity – aspects that align with a populist nationalist rhetoric – which connotes renewable energy infrastructures solely as positive, but which in most cases presents it in a generalized and delocalized way, with no space for critical thinking about the consequences of building concrete energy infrastructures at the local level, in terms of territorial justice and social sustainability.

(2) Discuss the dark side of large-scale renewable energy infrastructure: projects dominated by powerful economic lobbies - in these discourses, the newspapers analysed only present a negative perspective of the energy transition related to the capitalist logic and corruption with which these infrastructures are being built, since they continue to benefit only large economic groups and generate money for established elites - and which aligns with a populist anti-elitist rhetoric. This discourse thus tends to criticize the way the transition is being executed, and the government that compacts with this form of transition that can call into question the experiences and environmental values of rural territories, perpetuating and creating new socio-environmental injustices. 

(3) Energy justice as crucial to the energy transition - although less frequent, some more critical articles highlight and discuss in concrete ways the importance of energy justice in the transition to renewable energies. In this sense, some topics considered in these articles are energy poverty and decentralization of the energy system, considering that the energy transition should also contribute to making energy more accessible for all.

It was also found that these three communication trends and associated discourses are mostly present in newspapers in an exclusive and disjointed way: either the articles in the newspapers are focused on theme 1, or theme 2, or theme 3. Thus, and even if indirectly, the analysed newspapers, and especially Observador and Correio da Manhã where this pattern was found more prominently, end up promoting a way of thinking about the energy transition to renewable energies and about its consequences that is dichotomous and simplistic – it is either positive at a global level, or it is negative at a local level - which does not encourage critical thinking in the public debate that considers both the pros and cons of large-scale renewable energy generation infrastructures. In turn, this type of communication, resonating with far-right populist rhetoric in Portugal, may echo feelings of marginalization and resentment among local communities. These communities have not been adequately involved in the decision-making processes of these large projects and often do not witness the local benefits promised by authorities and companies responsible for these projects, in terms of local socio-economic development and improvements in their lives. This is despite the socio-ecological and economic impacts caused by large-scale energy infrastructures in the territories where they live. The alienation of these communities in these projects can contribute to their alignment with far-right populist positions opposing established powers in general and other associated discourses, such as nationalist rhetoric. Therefore, this study results in the proposal of a conceptual model that systematizes the dimensions to be considered, both from the standpoint of scientific research and public policies and territorial planning, for a better understanding and integration of people's and communities' responses to the energy transition to renewable energies:

Conceptual model developed in the project

Additionally, during a discussion session on the results of this study with representatives from prominent national media outlets and climate activists, some key points were discussed including the importance of acknowledging that climate justice is at the core of responses to several crises our societies are living, and that the media plays an increasingly crucial role in engaging creating informed and in-depth discussions in the public sphere about the causes and potential solutions to the climate crisis we are facing, and which demands urgent attention.

Approach and Results - Study 2

This second study aimed to understand how some rural communities experience and position themselves in relation to the implementation of large-scale projects of renewable energy infrastructures in their territories, as well as in relation to far-right populist rhetoric, and associated stances, such as regarding social diversity and integration of migrants and ethnic minorities in these territories. The study focused on two communities - Castelo de Vide (Portalegre) and Graciosa (Azores) - which, in addition to living with existing and planned renewable energy infrastructures (solar plants and wind farms, respectively), are in regions which showed a greater support or presence of the far-right populist party Chega in the last elections. The study was carried out based on narrative interviews (total of 16 per case study) and focus groups (total of 3 per case study) with members of local communities and other local reference actors. The results suggest that the territorial specificities of the communities under study, and the respective challenges related to their peripheralization and social desertification, are a crucial factor in understanding adherence to far-right populist rhetoric, as well as responses to the implementation of large-scale projects of energy infrastructures in these territories.

In the Graciosa case, three specific axes of meaning construction were identified in the discourses of the interviewees:

(a) The quality of life vs. the costs of living in Graciosa - this theme reflects the representations that the participants of the Graciosa island have of living in a peripheral and small region, where advantages such as tranquillity, access to natural beauty, security and a strong sense of community belonging are identified, but which are seen as inherently associated with negative counterparts such as higher prices and deprivation of basic services (such as healthcare) and diversified employment opportunities for the youngest. In other words, a naturalization of this "sacrifice for rurality" was found - it is seen as natural that in order to have access to the benefits of rurality, one must also live with the deprivations of rurality. In this sense, some of the rhetoric that is used by far-right populisms and particularly by Chega, echoes in this experience, recognizing the deprivations that these communities live and blaming the elites and established powers for them.

(b) Graciólica as a project that puts Graciosa on the map in the face of the island's peripheralization – but that could also bring specific local socioeconomic benefits – regarding the Graciólica project, which includes a wind farm and a solar plant and energy storage facility, participants present it as a project that has contributed to the projection and visibility of the island, both at the archipelago and national levels, and as a source of local pride for tackling climate change. However, it has also been pointed out that this project did not bring the local impacts expected by the population, particularly in terms of reduced energy costs for the local community. This highlights a situation of distributive injustice between those who bear the costs of the project and those who benefit from it.

(c) “No one votes for Chega here, we vote against subsidy dependence and against the system” – regarding the Chega party, participants from Graciosa presented their support for this party as a result of the failure of national and regional governments to address structural, territorial, and social issues in these territories. These issues are presented as obstacles to the socioeconomic development of the island, including the lack of basic services and social subsidies dependence. They also emphasized the role of the media in the mediatization of this party.

During a dissemination and debate session on the results of this study with Graciosa community key stakeholders, issues related to decision-making processes regarding energy infrastructure and projects were also discussed, including concerns about the independence and lack of integration of entities responsible for the different sections of the energy system (production, distribution, and commercialization of energy). Other topics considered were corruption and supervision in the allocation of social subsidies, and specific barriers to the territory's development such as water quality issues and the need for a waste treatment station. Possible solutions for more sustainable and conscious energy consumption were also addressed, such as the digitization of the energy tariff to allow consumption based on the percentage of renewable energy being generated in the island, and raising awareness of sustainability issues in schools.

Regarding the second case study – Castelo de Vide – three thematic lines of meaning construction were also identified in the interviews and focus groups analysed:

(a) Quality of life vs. the costs of living in Castelo de Vide – similar to Graciosa, advantages of living in Castelo de Vide were identified, mostly related to tranquillity and contact with nature, but which were almost always presented with associated counterparts, such as the absence of employment opportunities, alternatives for continuing formal education locally, and appealing cultural options to attract the younger population. In this sense, the naturalization of an idea of "sacrifice for rurality" was also quite present.

(b) Impacts of energy transition on quality of life - lack of local socio-economic development and expected job creation - in relation to energy transition projects being implemented locally, including solar plants, the participants highlighted how these projects have been deployed without consultation and involvement of local populations, and in an extractive and centralized logic of mobilization of natural resources generated in their territories for urban areas, without bringing direct benefits to the local population. They also mentioned that these projects do not contribute to tackle the social desertification of this territory, nor to the increase of jobs that can retain and attract more population – two of the main obstacles for local development.

(c) When competing for poverty, "this is a great place for [far-right] populism (...) in this territory, we have the situation of the Roma people" – according to participants from Castelo de Vide, similar to what was observed in Graciosa, votes for Chega are identified as protest votes and a revolt against the lack of solutions for specific local problems, such as the abandonment of these rural territories. In this context, right-wing populism emerges as an alternative to the current governments, encouraged by media coverage, and the cases of corruption, namely in the energy transition sector, that have come to public attention. In this territory, the issue of employment is seen as the main problem and is presented in relation to the integration of migrants and other ethnic minorities: on the one hand, migrants and ethnic minorities are associated with labour for jobs that the local population is not interested in, but on the other hand, they are also presented as a different group from the locals – "they" – who take the available jobs or live off social subsidies (the latter case often associated with the Roma ethnicity, reflecting Chega's misinformation rhetoric on this issue).

In the third dissemination and discussion session of the results of this study that took place in Castelo de Vide, some of the topics discussed with local stakeholders were the social desertification of this territory, associated with the growing disinvestment in terms of equipping rural areas with infrastructure and basic services, and with an erosion of a more active and informed citizenship among its populations. The need for local political representatives who are more knowledgeable about issues associated with the energy transition and climate justice, who participate in discussion sessions about them with local communities and who claim their rights with the central government was therefore identified.

© 2016 Project Team | Iscte

Conclusions

The media play a key role in the multi-vocal representation of the energy transition. The depoliticized, simplistic, and dichotomous communication about the energy transition, that currently tend to be present in the analysed media communication, ends up reflecting, even if indirectly, some of the rhetoric and discourses of far-right populism in Portugal, which in turn seems to echo the concerns of communities in the analysed rural territories affected by the renewable energy transition. These are territories with structural problems (lack of employment and basic services) that are not only left unaddressed by these new renewable energy projects and infrastructures, despite them being vectors of socio-economic development at national and global levels, but that even suffer negative effects from these infrastructures, such as on agriculture and tourism. However, this does not imply that these communities endorse a far-right "ideology", but rather that they coalesce around discourses that seem to recognize these structural problems – lack of social justice, decent jobs, and basic services.

Implications and Reccommendations

Implications and recommendations for promoting a fairer and more inclusive transition to renewable energies, based on the results of the two empirical studies and the three discussion sessions on these results with members of the local communities of Graciosa and Castelo de Vide, and with journalists and climate activists:

Media

• They must challenge discourses that present renewable energy infrastructure as inherently sustainable.

• They should discuss the transition to renewable energies and associated aspects in a critical and multivocal way, i.e. giving a voice to all interested and affected parties, from the local to the global.

• They should create and disseminate more content (such as major reports, interviews and statistical studies) to better inform audiences on topics such as:

  • Peripheralization and social desertification of rural areas, with information that goes beyond the number of basic facilities per inhabitant, but also considers, for example, the ease of access to these facilities.

  • ‘Subsidy dependency’, with information on what social subsidies are, their value, the percentage of beneficiaries by region, the sociodemographic characterization of those who receive them, and the stages of the allocation process;

  • Integration of migrants, with information on tax rights and duties, social security contributions, integration into the labour market by sector, and testimonies of their experiences of these issues in different regions of the country;

• Discussion of contemporary problems, such as armed conflicts, socioeconomic crises and the energy transition, through a systemic vision that considers these problems as interconnected with the climate crisis and energy policies.

Policy Makers and Public Policies

• Create public policies and planning instruments to achieve a fairer and more participatory energy transition that does not commodify renewable energies.

• Clear and stringent directives for transparency and participatory inclusion of local communities in all phases of planning, implementation, maintenance and decommissioning of energy transition projects.

• Implementation of strategies to generate direct compensation for the territories and communities where major energy transition infrastructures are implemented.

• Empower local political representatives with knowledge about the energy transition and climate justice and to promote discussion sessions on these issues with local communities, and with the central government to claim their rights.

• Create local information spaces with data on the climate crisis and the energy transition on a global, national and local scale, and with data on the energy projects being implemented locally and how the territory's natural resources are being managed, for consultation and discussion with the local population.

Policy Brief JUSTENERGY_EN.pdf

Download PDF • 723KB

Text written by Pedro Simão Mendes (Science Communication Manager)