Abstract

Energiewende is a German compound word for energy transition. This dissertation utilizes the term as a linguistic device to navigate the discourse of Germany’s energy transition and to reconstruct its dynamics, particularly in terms of associated social value systems. The concept of value is limited to monetary profit in the first innovation theory ‘entrepreneurship’ paradigm. In the subsequent technological paradigm, the value of innovation was conceived as commercial diffusion and society as a market. The recent ‘transformative change’ paradigm has shifted towards social values, pursued through supranational institutions. However, recent European Commission studies fall short of investigating the social dimension of the challenges of Energiewende and remain focused on economic dimensions. This dissertation builds on alternative approaches in communication theory and anthropology to theorize value, particularly in the context of innovation. Furthermore, it builds on approaches in innovation studies drawn from structural linguistics to identify and trace the dynamics of value systems in texts. On this basis, narrative and textual analysis were employed to trace the diffusion of Energiewende, reconstruct associated value systems and their evolutionary dynamics, and assess the influence of institutional actors. Findings challenge the predictions of diffusionist innovation theories and demonstrate a case where the diffusion of an idea was supported by the social landscape. Associated value systems include economic and environmental values, which are the most diverse and the most predominant, respectively. However, it is the social values that supplement the missing dimension of the transformative change paradigm. Specifically, the evolution of values, such as decentralization, social justice and social change, challenges theoretical projections. Likewise, the engagement of institutional actors with evolution processes also challenge entrepreneurship theories. Based on findings, a short story of Energiewende has been reconstructed, summarizing the evolution of associated concepts and the role of actors. As it turns out, the diffusion of Energiewende and the evolution of its value systems have been turbulent processes, including several pivotal “turns.” Thereby, this dissertation makes theoretical and methodological contributions to the fields of energy transition, innovation and communication studies. Furthermore, a plethora of technical and historical insights provide material for further explorations.