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Caught between reformist visions and planetary realities: Socialization discourses and the (counter-)hegemonic positions of labor unions and environmental NGOs in the German energy sector

Harzer, Charlotte LU (2025) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20251
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Demands for socialization understood as the collective, democratically governed ownership of essential goods, are growing louder in Germany’s energy sector. This thesis critically examines how German labor unions and environmental NGOs articulate the concept of socialization within the energy sector, using Antonio Gramsci’s cultural hegemony and Nancy Fraser’s progressive neoliberalism as theoretical lenses. Through a qualitative critical discourse analysis of semi-structured interviews with four major labor unions and four environmental NGOs, the study reveals that both actor groups agree on more democratization and an orientation toward the common good, two central elements of the concept. However, ownership transformation is neither... (More)
Demands for socialization understood as the collective, democratically governed ownership of essential goods, are growing louder in Germany’s energy sector. This thesis critically examines how German labor unions and environmental NGOs articulate the concept of socialization within the energy sector, using Antonio Gramsci’s cultural hegemony and Nancy Fraser’s progressive neoliberalism as theoretical lenses. Through a qualitative critical discourse analysis of semi-structured interviews with four major labor unions and four environmental NGOs, the study reveals that both actor groups agree on more democratization and an orientation toward the common good, two central elements of the concept. However, ownership transformation is neither seen as beneficial nor feasible. Neither group articulates a coherent counter-hegemonic stance, instead adapting to neoliberal frameworks through progressive policy proposals and local democratic experiments. These findings underscore the persistence of neoliberal hegemony in shaping energy discourses and highlight the critical need to rethink ownership structures and power relations to advance transformative socialization agendas. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Harzer, Charlotte LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
socialization, counter-hegemony, progressive neoliberalism, expropriation, sustainability science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2025:028
language
English
id
9202756
date added to LUP
2025-06-19 15:33:13
date last changed
2025-06-19 15:33:13
@misc{9202756,
  abstract     = {{Demands for socialization understood as the collective, democratically governed ownership of essential goods, are growing louder in Germany’s energy sector. This thesis critically examines how German labor unions and environmental NGOs articulate the concept of socialization within the energy sector, using Antonio Gramsci’s cultural hegemony and Nancy Fraser’s progressive neoliberalism as theoretical lenses. Through a qualitative critical discourse analysis of semi-structured interviews with four major labor unions and four environmental NGOs, the study reveals that both actor groups agree on more democratization and an orientation toward the common good, two central elements of the concept. However, ownership transformation is neither seen as beneficial nor feasible. Neither group articulates a coherent counter-hegemonic stance, instead adapting to neoliberal frameworks through progressive policy proposals and local democratic experiments. These findings underscore the persistence of neoliberal hegemony in shaping energy discourses and highlight the critical need to rethink ownership structures and power relations to advance transformative socialization agendas.}},
  author       = {{Harzer, Charlotte}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Caught between reformist visions and planetary realities: Socialization discourses and the (counter-)hegemonic positions of labor unions and environmental NGOs in the German energy sector}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}