Energy poverty in the Czech Republic : Individual
responsibility or structural issue?

J 2021

Energy poverty in the Czech Republic : Individual responsibility or structural issue?

KOĎOUSKOVÁ, Hedvika and Lukáš LEHOTSKÝ

Basic information

Original name

Energy poverty in the Czech Republic : Individual responsibility or structural issue?

Authors

KOĎOUSKOVÁ, Hedvika (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Lukáš LEHOTSKÝ (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Energy Research & Social Science, Amsterdam, Elsevier, 2021, 2214-6296

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

50601 Political science

Country of publisher

Netherlands

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 8.514

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14230/21:00120846

Organization unit

Faculty of Social Studies

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101877

UT WoS

000624445400007

Keywords in English

Energy poverty; Policy framing; Bureaucracy; The Czech Republic

Abstract

V originále

Although energy poverty is now high on the EU agenda, pressing member states to adopt targeted policies, there are considerable differences in the state of play across individual countries. In this context, it is worth investigating how this agenda translates into policy. We aim to contribute to this underrepresented strand of research in the energy poverty domain by focusing on the discursive side. This paper starts with the theoretical assumption that bureaucrats are especially important in the initial stages of new policy formation. It further presupposes framing as a process that typically occurs in tackling the complex reality of an emerging policy problem. We have chosen the Czech Republic as a case study as it does not currently have any official energy poverty policies though a working group on the ministerial level has been tasked to define the issue in the Czech context. The research reveals how relevant Czech bureaucrats frame the question of energy poverty. We identify three distinctive frames. Whereas two frames follow the broader ideological debate on poverty (individualizing vs. structural view), the third builds on the concept of vulnerability. None of the frames is clearly predominant. Besides their conflicting views about the causes of energy poverty, responsibilities and policies, there are also disagreements over the appropriate level (national or regional) of governance and a widely held belief that external research actors should shed more light on the issue. The complexity of the discussion may complicate finding a common approach.

Links

MUNI/A/1044/2019, interní kód MU

Name: Perspektivy evropské integrace v kontextu globální politiky II

Investor: Masaryk University, Category A

Files attached

Energy_poverty_in_the_Czech_Republic.pdf

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Citovat

KOĎOUSKOVÁ, Hedvika and Lukáš LEHOTSKÝ. Energy poverty in the Czech Republic : Individual responsibility or structural issue? Energy Research & Social Science. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2021, vol. 72, February, p. 1-9. ISSN 2214-6296. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101877.

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   author = {Koďousková, Hedvika and Lehotský, Lukáš},
   article_location = {Amsterdam},
   article_number = {February},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101877},
   keywords = {Energy poverty; Policy framing; Bureaucracy; The Czech Republic},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {2214-6296},
   journal = {Energy Research & Social Science},
   title = {Energy poverty in the Czech Republic : Individual responsibility or structural issue?},
   url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629620304527?dgcid=coauthor},
   volume = {72},
   year = {2021}
}

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KW  - Energy poverty
KW  - Policy framing
KW  - Bureaucracy
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L2  - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629620304527?dgcid=coauthor
N2  - Although energy poverty is now high on the EU agenda, pressing member states to adopt targeted policies, there are considerable differences in the state of play across individual countries. In this context, it is worth investigating how this agenda translates into policy. We aim to contribute to this underrepresented strand of research in the energy poverty domain by focusing on the discursive side. This paper starts with the theoretical assumption that bureaucrats are especially important in the initial stages of new policy formation. It further presupposes framing as a process that typically occurs in tackling the complex reality of an emerging policy problem. We have chosen the Czech Republic as a case study as it does not currently have any official energy poverty policies though a working group on the ministerial level has been tasked to define the issue in the Czech context. The research reveals how relevant Czech bureaucrats frame the question of energy poverty. We identify three distinctive frames. Whereas two frames follow the broader ideological debate on poverty (individualizing vs. structural view), the third builds on the concept of vulnerability. None of the frames is clearly predominant. Besides their conflicting views about the causes of energy poverty, responsibilities and policies, there are also disagreements over the appropriate level (national or regional) of governance and a widely held belief that external research actors should shed more light on the issue. The complexity of the discussion may complicate finding a common approach.
ER  -

KOĎOUSKOVÁ, Hedvika and Lukáš LEHOTSKÝ. Energy poverty in the Czech Republic : Individual responsibility or structural issue? \textit{Energy Research \&{} Social Science}. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2021, vol.~72, February, p.~1-9. ISSN~2214-6296. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101877.

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