Domestic Politics of Gas Pipelines in Europe. A Comparative Analysis of the Nabucco, Nord Stream, and Nord Stream 2

This dissertation project conducts a theoretically guided empirical analysis of how domestic societal factors – such as economic group interests and voter preferences – shape governmental positions on gas pipelines. It examines three major gas pipeline projects from the past 20 years - Nabucco, Nord Stream, and Nord Stream 2 – where EU member states displayed diverging preferences.
The central research question is: Why do the governments of Poland, Germany, and France hold differing positions on gas pipelines? Applying the societal approach to governmental preference formation, which is rooted in domestic politics theories, this study argues that these differences stem from variations in the cost-benefit calculations of domestic business groups (material interests) and/or value-based, path-dependent expectations of voters (societal ideas) within each country. Additionally, it explores the conditions under which these societal forces prevail and shape governmental preferences.
Since the Treaty of Lisbon (2007) and the introduction of Article 194 (Energy Chapter), energy policy has been a shared competency between the EU and its member states. While the EU regulates gas and electricity markets, renewable energy, and sustainability, individual states retain control over their energy mix and relations with non-EU suppliers. Consequently, national governments play a crucial role in pipeline politics, yet this dimension is often overlooked in academic research. Existing studies tend to focus on the economic aspect of supply and demand and geopolitical and security aspects of gas infrastructure, leaving domestic societal factors and governmental preferences underexplored.
By analyzing these factors through within-case and cross-case comparisons, this study provides new insights into how domestic preferences in energy politics are formed. It demonstrates the critical role of societal factors in determining the success or failure of energy projects. Additionally, it highlights how historical trajectories and the interplay of economic considerations shape governmental decisions.