Norwegian and Ukrainian energy futures: exploring the role of national identity in sociotechnical imaginaries of energy security

Energy security as a concept is void of meaning if not related to specific sociotechnical settings, this article argues. By bringing in insights from science and technology studies and national identity-making, we focus on how sociotechnical imaginaries of energy security in Norway and Ukraine are formative and productive for both technological development and societal discourses. This leads to diverse national narratives and strategies for providing energy security. In Norway, the imaginary transcends technical reasoning and day-to-day administration and has created a highly stable discourse seldom politicised. In Ukraine, the sociotechnical imaginary is in flux and highly politicised – if not securitised – as a new Ukrainian identity is under construction with and against energy technology and the Russian other. The article shows the benefits of understanding energy security as an interplay between societal discourses, technologies and natural resources rather than a stable end goal to be pursued.