The American Energy Paradox ; Le paradoxe énergétique américain

Abstract

From the first energy crisis during Nixon's presidency, to the search for "energy dominance" during Trump's term, this thesis aims to decipher the complex and paradoxical relationship of the Americans to energy. Energy, as a national political issue,was born from the question of America's dependence on fossi lfuels. At the same time, a national environmental consciousness was emerging. Energy and the environment are intimately linked to the American identity. The end of the political consensus on environmental issues and the United States' race for fossil fuels, ina context of energy dependence and with the risk of peak oil, fueled by ideological polarization, has gradually excluded environmentaland climate issues from federal energy policies. While the international community is demanding Americans to lead by example in the fight against global warming and while the American public opinion has remained committed to managing this issue, federal institutions are paradoxically paralyzed by partisan divisions.The duality between economic, energy and climatic issues,although they are intertwined, has certainly led to a paralysis ofthe federal energy policies. However, federalism has led to a different response. The action of sub-national levels of governance in managing climate and energy issues simultaneously is illustrating the existence of multiple dynamics around these issues. This is the central hypothesis of this thesis.The rise of shale hydrocarbons, which led the United States towards energy independence, has been a catalyst for the divide between federal and sub-national policies. It has also led to a newform of climate activism. The private sector, local communities,cities and states are redesigning U.S. energy policy, or rather,U.S. energy policies from within by integrating both climate and economic issues. ; De la première crise énergétique durant la présidence de Nixon, à la recherche de la «dominance énergétique » durant le mandat de Trump, cette thèse vise à décrypter la relation complexe et ...