When politics determines policy success and failure. A comparison of offshore wind power in Denmark and Spain

Abstract

Why do some European countries succeed in developing offshore wind power? This study compares the Spanish and Danish cases from the 1970s to 2021. By completing the literature on both policy failure and success with concepts from psychology, the study stresses the relevance of public funding instability, federal architecture, intertwined political interests and policy discourse as dimensions that impact the rise of offshore wind power. Drawing on this framework, the Danish success suggests that strong leadership based on a shared objective can create efficient institutions able to avoid veto players and secure financial investments over time. This process can boost the rise of a self-confident discourse that will reinforce the virtuous circle.