View article

Energy supply and consumption practices are deeply influenced by the social structures in which they take place. Much social science based energy research, and in particular practice theory, takes this into account. This avoids the pitfall of ignoring the broader social, structural features that constrain and enable everyday energy-related practices. According to Giddens' structuration theory, social structures are in turn determined by the actions and discourse of powerful groups and individuals. In this chapter I argue that extremely wealthy groups and individuals, and those with privileged access to money, machinate and manipulate social structure to suit their purposes, with profound consequences for many aspects of everyday life for most people, including in energy access and supply. I draw on Winters' studies of oligarchs, Ingham's and others' accounts of the commercial banking system, and several …