How China overtook Europe and America in clean-tech transitions (2000–2025): Combining socio-technical transition and political economy theories to analyse global industrial shifts

2026-07-31

Frank W. Geels

DOI：10.1016/j.erss.2026.104885

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Abstract

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• China overtook Europe and America in clean-tech transitions' manufacturing and deployment • Develops new framework on transition dynamics, interest groups, institutions, state interests and capacity, and policies. • Chinese clean-tech transitions were driven by successful new entrant firms and effective policies, which strengthened over time • Chinese policymakers had greater independence vis-à-vis incumbent firms, engaging in better long-term planning and adaptive policy learning • Incumbent firms significantly influenced European and American policymakers, leading to weaker policies and slower transitions

Keywords:

Clean-tech transitions

manufacturing

Trade

Competition

Combining transition and political economy theories

China

European union

America

How China overtook Europe and America in clean-tech transitions (2000–2025): Combining socio-technical transition and political economy theories to analyse global industrial shifts

Abstract

Journal

Organization