Unraveling Class Dynamics in Energy Transition in Turkey

While the energy transition holds promise for the climate crisis, it simultaneously presents a conundrum of labor implications that defy simplicity. This theoretical exploration delves into the intricate facets of the energy transition, offering qualitative insights to unravel its profound impact on labour and class dynamics. Historically, transitions in labour, such as the transition from coal to gas, as exemplified by Timothy Mitchell's concept of "carbon democracy" or transformations in the capitalist mode of production in the 1960s and 1970s, marked by the emergence of the "mass-worker" and the increase in the automated processes have fundamentally reshaped the class dynamics. Yet, the transition from fossil fuels to renewables is no ordinary shift; it entails a complex narrative that has frequently been oversimplified by assuming that change occurs primarily from the bottom up, through grassroots movements, or via policy-oriented pathways, overlooking the intricate power plays, authority structures, and divergent interests of different stakeholders. This paper endeavors to illuminate the interplay of class dynamics and the energy transition, by utilizing a Gramscian framework and incorporating a Marxist class analysis. This theoretical exploration contributes to the broader discourse on achieving a just and sustainable energy transition. By adequately incorporating class dynamics into the framework, the understanding of power structures, the potential impacts on different classes, and the distribution of benefits and burdens can be enhanced.