De-risking as continuation of dependence? A polit-economic Analysis of German Colonialism and the Hyphen-Hydrogen-Projects in Namibia

In the context of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the ensuing stop of energy supply from Russia, the renunciation of fossil energy sources and the establishment of new energy partnerships has increased considerably. Apart from the expansion of the national capacities it can already be clearly seen that the import of energy will play an important role for the German national economy.

The current federal government mainly focusses on countries of the global South, especially Namibia, in the adopted National Hydrogene Strategy which promises the potential for a favorable provision of the required energy sources due to its low number in population, large area and location at the seaside. In order to realize these hopes massive investment in the construction of production capacities is needed.

Thus, will investigate in our research project the Political Economy of financing a new energy infrastructure in Namibia. One predominant modus appears to be the protection and stimulation of private investment by public guarantees, which are summed up under the concept of „De-Risking“. A theoretical embedding in the international political theory of the Dependence Theory and its current developments is supposed to broaden the view for continuities and fractions of the relations between Namibia and Germany which are marked by colonialism. Our methodic approach to the topic is to conduct handbook-supported expert interviews with politicians, activists and scientists.

The aim of our research project is to get a deeper understanding of the energy partnership between Germany and Namibia. Wir want to understand which continuities and fractions in the partnership will occur due to the hydrogene production in Namibia and which potentials and risiks will arise from it for Namibia and its position in the world’s system.

 

Student research group

• Fabio Banet
• Flinn Aguirre
• Armin Höpfner

Mentor

• Prof. Dr. Ulrich Fritsche