10 POWERING THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA …
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which are traditionally American allies, are interested in engaging
the leading vendor, Rosatom of Russia. Consequently, Tristan Volpe
and Nicholas Miller argue that the US must be more constructive
in engaging newcomers like Saudi Arabia because ‘Russia and China
use trade in civil nuclear technology to gain influence in regions of
strategic value’. 6
This chapter will use the well-established framework known as multilevel perspective (MLP) to analyse why and how a niche technology like
nuclear power was adopted in some countries (Iran, UAE, Turkey, and
Egypt), seriously under consideration in others (Saudi Arabia and Jordan)
but rejected in Kuwait. After all, decisions about nuclear energy took place
within shared landscape and niche level environments in MENA. Countries in MENA are also shaped by fossil-fuel-based energy regimes that are
strongly embedded in the region’s political, economic, and social fabric.
While the Gulf monarchies are ‘archetypal’ rentier states heavily reliant on
hydrocarbon revenues, corporations run by well-connected businessmen
and military personnel in north African states like Egypt or Tunisia have
vested interests in perpetuating energy subsidies. 7
The first part of the chapter will provide a brief overview of the MLP
methodology, including the niche, regime, and landscape levels as they
pertain to nuclear energy in MENA. The second part of the chapter
will explore interactions between the three levels of analysis through an
in-depth case study of the UAE, whose Barakah nuclear plant began operating in 2020. The intention is not to claim that the UAE is representative
of the MENA experience in adopting nuclear power. Rather, the detailed
case study of the UAE is aimed at understanding and applying the MLP
framework; it also facilitates a comparative study of nuclear power in
other MENA countries. The third part examines the efficacy of strategies deployed by the UAE and other countries in MENA to sustain
the commitment of stakeholders in favour of nuclear energy. Finally,
the chapter will weigh the likelihood of the appearance of more nuclear
newcomers in MENA in future.
Multi-level Perspective: An Analytical Framework
MLP has been widely used to analyse the sustainability of transitions in
food, transport, housing, water, and energy systems. Scholarship on the
latter include transitions related to specific technological innovations such
265
which are traditionally American allies, are interested in engaging
the leading vendor, Rosatom of Russia. Consequently, Tristan Volpe
and Nicholas Miller argue that the US must be more constructive
in engaging newcomers like Saudi Arabia because ‘Russia and China
use trade in civil nuclear technology to gain influence in regions of
strategic value’. 6
This chapter will use the well-established framework known as multilevel perspective (MLP) to analyse why and how a niche technology like
nuclear power was adopted in some countries (Iran, UAE, Turkey, and
Egypt), seriously under consideration in others (Saudi Arabia and Jordan)
but rejected in Kuwait. After all, decisions about nuclear energy took place
within shared landscape and niche level environments in MENA. Countries in MENA are also shaped by fossil-fuel-based energy regimes that are
strongly embedded in the region’s political, economic, and social fabric.
While the Gulf monarchies are ‘archetypal’ rentier states heavily reliant on
hydrocarbon revenues, corporations run by well-connected businessmen
and military personnel in north African states like Egypt or Tunisia have
vested interests in perpetuating energy subsidies. 7
The first part of the chapter will provide a brief overview of the MLP
methodology, including the niche, regime, and landscape levels as they
pertain to nuclear energy in MENA. The second part of the chapter
will explore interactions between the three levels of analysis through an
in-depth case study of the UAE, whose Barakah nuclear plant began operating in 2020. The intention is not to claim that the UAE is representative
of the MENA experience in adopting nuclear power. Rather, the detailed
case study of the UAE is aimed at understanding and applying the MLP
framework; it also facilitates a comparative study of nuclear power in
other MENA countries. The third part examines the efficacy of strategies deployed by the UAE and other countries in MENA to sustain
the commitment of stakeholders in favour of nuclear energy. Finally,
the chapter will weigh the likelihood of the appearance of more nuclear
newcomers in MENA in future.
Multi-level Perspective: An Analytical Framework
MLP has been widely used to analyse the sustainability of transitions in
food, transport, housing, water, and energy systems. Scholarship on the
latter include transitions related to specific technological innovations such