Starting from the relations of production, this paper examines the role of mafia for the preservation of social power and class relations in Sicily. To this end, the concept of the informal state apparatus is introduced. Following the approach of Critical Grounded Theory, this paper proposes to fill explanatory gaps in conventional mafia research by means of Nicos Poulantzas’ historical materialist state theory. In-depth field research confirms the systematic generation of irregularity through conditions in which it ...

Renewable energy has made significant inroads in addressing growing energy demands on the African continent. However, progress towards SDG 7 is still limited and difficult to trace. Furthermore, the results-oriented rationale of the SDGs means that both policy change and the dimension of environmental justice are not covered properly. We argue that the energy justice concept may provide a powerful tool to offset looming trade-offs and enhance the co-benefits of SDG 7 within broader transition endeavours. In doing so, ...

Since the surge in oil prices during the 1970s there was an increased academic interest in explaining the formation of oil prices and the critical role played by OPEC in this process. A variety of economic models were established to explain the rise of price setting power by OPEC reflected in the massive price increases. During the 1980s, however, against many projections, the surge in oil prices came to a hold and from the 1980s on started to decrease, finally collapsing in 1986 to an unprecedented low. These ...

Der vorliegenden Arbeit geht es um die gegenseitige Plausibilisierung der theoretischen Strömung der Neuen Materialismen und der materialistischen Staatstheorie. Den Neuen Materialismen, so die Annahme, fehlt vor allem eine Perspektive auf den Staat, Politik und Gewalt. Demgegenüber bedarf die materialistische Staatstheorie der Öffnung für intersektionale Einflüsse, nicht-binäre Logiken und eine ontologische Fundierung ihrer Argumente, um essentialistischen Schließungen effektiv vorzubeugen. Die Plausibilisierung ...