November 2023
Article
Policy Studies Journal

Coalition Cascades: The Politics of Tipping Points in Clean Energy Transitions

By: Jonas Meckling and Nicholas Goedeking

Format:Electronic
| Pages:25

Abstract

Policy change often involves multiple policy subsystems, as in the case of clean energy transitions. We argue that trans- subsystem policy feedback is a central dynamic in policy change across subsystems. Policy in one subsystem creates benefits/costs and/or learning effects that mobilize actors for policy change in another subsystem, resulting in “coalition cascades” across interdependent subsystems. If coalition cascades lead to the resolution of coordination problems across subsystems, the system reaches a tipping point in policy change. Coalition cas-cades are thus the transmission belts of trans-subsystem policy feedback. We illustrate our argument in the case of California's clean energy transition. We show how early renewable energy policy spilled over into the subsystems on grid policy—leading to energy storage policy—and on transport policy—resulting in electric vehicle charging policy. The article advances our un-derstanding of the mechanisms underpinning trans-subsystem policy change, offering a model of the politics of tipping points.