Unveiling the shadows: Reassessing energy security through the lens of petro-violence and green colonialism

This paper offers a critical re-examination of these intertwined phenomena using a political ecology framework, challenging conventional energy security paradigms. By integrating case studies from Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria, the study explores how both fossil fuel and renewable energy sectors contribute to socio-political and environmental injustices. Through this lens, the paper reveals the limitations of state-centric and market-driven models and advocates for a paradigm shift towards an inclusive energy security framework. This redefined framework emphasises sustainability, equity, and global cooperation, urging policymakers to reconsider energy governance structures that perpetuate these injustices. The study's findings highlight the need for policies that incorporate just transitions and energy justice, ensuring that energy transitions do not replicate the exploitative practices of the past. Ultimately, this research calls for a more equitable and sustainable global energy landscape, where the benefits and burdens of energy development are distributed more fairly.