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Power in the Age of the Green Energy Transition: Multinational Corporations, the State, and Cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Arvidsson, Wilma LU (2023) STVM25 20231
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This thesis investigates the power balance between states and multinational corporations, and how the green energy transition impacts this balance, a connection commonly overlooked by researchers. I have sought to remedy this gap by conducting a qualitative case study of the relationship between the Democratic Republic of Congo, which holds the majority of global cobalt reserves, and major cobalt producer Glencore. Cobalt is a critical mineral to the transition towards renewable energy sources due to its usefulness in batteries used in electric vehicles. Approaching a wide array of empirical material from a Critical Political Economy perspective, I have found that the balance of power between Glencore and the DRC has shifted, although not... (More)
This thesis investigates the power balance between states and multinational corporations, and how the green energy transition impacts this balance, a connection commonly overlooked by researchers. I have sought to remedy this gap by conducting a qualitative case study of the relationship between the Democratic Republic of Congo, which holds the majority of global cobalt reserves, and major cobalt producer Glencore. Cobalt is a critical mineral to the transition towards renewable energy sources due to its usefulness in batteries used in electric vehicles. Approaching a wide array of empirical material from a Critical Political Economy perspective, I have found that the balance of power between Glencore and the DRC has shifted, although not in a linear fashion. As the DRC has begun to take advantage of its unique situation within the shift to renewable energy sources, it has been able to improve its position against MNCs like Glencore. The DRC has reached new levels of policy autonomy through policy changes reflecting an increase in resource nationalism. This case represents a weakening of the neoliberal hegemony, breaking with norms that previously guided natural resource governance. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Arvidsson, Wilma LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVM25 20231
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
cobalt, Democratic Republic of Congo, Glencore, multinational corporations, green energy transition
language
English
id
9115382
date added to LUP
2023-09-07 16:44:00
date last changed
2023-09-07 16:44:00
@misc{9115382,
  abstract     = {{This thesis investigates the power balance between states and multinational corporations, and how the green energy transition impacts this balance, a connection commonly overlooked by researchers. I have sought to remedy this gap by conducting a qualitative case study of the relationship between the Democratic Republic of Congo, which holds the majority of global cobalt reserves, and major cobalt producer Glencore. Cobalt is a critical mineral to the transition towards renewable energy sources due to its usefulness in batteries used in electric vehicles. Approaching a wide array of empirical material from a Critical Political Economy perspective, I have found that the balance of power between Glencore and the DRC has shifted, although not in a linear fashion. As the DRC has begun to take advantage of its unique situation within the shift to renewable energy sources, it has been able to improve its position against MNCs like Glencore. The DRC has reached new levels of policy autonomy through policy changes reflecting an increase in resource nationalism. This case represents a weakening of the neoliberal hegemony, breaking with norms that previously guided natural resource governance.}},
  author       = {{Arvidsson, Wilma}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Power in the Age of the Green Energy Transition: Multinational Corporations, the State, and Cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}