ABSTRACT
Investigating the political dimension of energy transitions in Southeast Asia has been a constant process of learning. Starting with the aim of measuring the impact and effectiveness of donor-driven renewable energy projects and evaluating their sustainability, the focus of this research shifted more and more towards the aid-receiving countries’ governance systems. Issues related to coordination and power became the primary concern. How the distribution of power resources and the ability to make use of these resources at different jurisdictional levels shape energy transitions became the focal point of this book. An open multi-level governance framework was applied that incorporates the role of power in central-local government relations. Discussing how donors aim to foster renewable energy development and how power shapes energy transitions in the Philippines and Indonesia, this chapter provides a cross-country comparison. Insights from both countries are then linked to experiences from Southeast Asia and other developing countries around the world.
