DFG-funded Emmy Noether Research Group established

Charlotte Müller, Elia Wehaiba El-Khazen and Philipp Wagner joined the ABI in April as doctoral candidates and researchers in the DFG-funded Emmy Noether Reseach Group ‘Renewable Energies, Renewed Authoritarianisms? The Political Economy of Solar Energy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA),’ headed by Dr. Benjamin Schuetze.

Charlotte completed her MSc at SOAS in London and focuses in her PhD project on the commodification and marketization of solar energy in Morocco. Elia also completed his MSc at SOAS in London and explores in his PhD project how the ‘logistics revolution’ that accompanies the promotion of solar energy in Jordan and Iraq reshapes mobilization from below. Philipp received his joint MA from the University of Freiburg and Sciences Po Aix-en-Provence and focuses in his PhD project on the governance of Tunisian-European solar and hydrogen energy relations.

Together with Benjamin Schuetze they will over the coming years explore how politics is driving the expansion of solar energy in the MENA, and how this (re-)shapes established authoritarian practices. Tabea Knerner supports the project as a student assistant. The project now also has its own website. Here you can find further information about the project, the team, publications, and past and upcoming events. The research group is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), currently until 2025, with the prospect of further funding until 2028.

https://www.polecon-solar-mena.org