Senior Lecturer
Politics Pathfoot Building (A93) University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA
After completing his PhD at Keele University in 2009, Hannes Stephan has worked as a research fellow at Keele University and at Lund University, Sweden, before joining the University of Stirling in 2012.
He teaches two undergraduate environment-related modules, a postgraduate module on resource conflicts, and conducts research on environmental politics and energy politics/policy.
His current research examines low-carbon energy transitions through the lenses of energy security, energy justice, narrative politics/policy, and discourse coalitions, with a particular focus on unconventional gas extraction (shale gas). Another long-standing research interest is the cultural politics of the environment, especially in relation to agri-food issues such as genetically modified/edited crops and animals.
Hannes Stephan was a co-convenor of the Environmental Standing Group of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) between 2011 and 2019.
Environmental and energy politics & policy, particularly:
Culture and politics Discourse analysis and narrative politics Narrative policy framework (NPF)
Divisional Learning & Teaching Officer
University of Stirling
Faculty Co-Lead for Graduate Studies
External Examiner, University of Dundee
University of Dundee
Responsibility for MA courses on international relations, natural resources, and climate change.
External Examiner, University of Edinburgh
Responsibility for MSc Global Environment, Politics and Society Programme.
Co-convenor, Environmental Politics Standing Group of the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR)
British International Studies Association (BISA)
Political Studies Association (PSA)
Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy (HEA)
Professional recognition for supporting learning and teaching in higher education
Member of Teaching Panel of the Education and Student Experience Committee (ESEC)
University of Stirling
Connecting with a low-carbon Scotland
PI:
Funded by: The Royal Society of Edinburgh
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Article
Schapper A, Cairney P, Crawford N, Hoffmann C, Park H & Stephan H (2025) New directions in climate justice? A dialogue between critical climate justice and policy studies scholars. Earth System Governance, 26, Art. No.: 100283. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esg.2025.100283
Book Chapter
Cairney P, Timonina I & Stephan H (2024) What are the prospects of a just transition towards sustainable climate change policies? The search for practical lessons from policy studies.. In: Pandemic Recovery? Reframing and Rescaling Societal Challenges. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, pp. 224-237. https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/pandemic-recovery-9781802201109.html
Article
How can policy and policymaking foster climate justice? A qualitative systematic review
Cairney P, Timonina I & Stephan H (2023) How can policy and policymaking foster climate justice? A qualitative systematic review. Open Research Europe, 3, Art. No.: 51. https://doi.org/10.12688/openreseurope.15719.2
Website Content
Communication strategies for supporting ambitious climate policy
Stephan HR (2021) Communication strategies for supporting ambitious climate policy. University of Stirling Public Policy Blog [Blog post] 13.12.2021. https://policyblog.stir.ac.uk/2021/12/13/communication-strategies-for-supporting-ambitious-climate-policy/
Article
Stephan H (2020) Shaping the Scope of Conflict in Scotland's Fracking Debate: Conflict Management and the Narrative Policy Framework. Review of Policy Research, 37 (1), pp. 64-91. https://doi.org/10.1111/ropr.12365
Research Report
Little G, Macdonald G & Stephan H (2018) The Royal Society of Edinburgh Research Network in the Arts and Humanities Connecting with a low-carbon Scotland: Disciplinary and interdisciplinary reports, recommendations and research questions. University of Stirling.
Article
The Discursive Politics of Unconventional Gas in Scotland: Drifting Towards Precaution?
Stephan H (2017) The Discursive Politics of Unconventional Gas in Scotland: Drifting Towards Precaution?. Energy Research and Social Science, 23, pp. 159-168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2016.09.006
Book Chapter
Energy and Climate Policy: Synergies, Conflicts, and Co-Benefits
Stephan H (2016) Energy and Climate Policy: Synergies, Conflicts, and Co-Benefits. In: Heffron R & Little G (eds.) Delivering Energy Law and Policy in the EU and the US: A Reader. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, pp. 581-586. https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-delivering-energy-law-and-policy-in-the-eu-and-the-us.html
Article
Energy Justice: A Conceptual Review
Jenkins K, McCauley DA, Heffron R, Stephan H & Rehner R (2016) Energy Justice: A Conceptual Review. Energy Research and Social Science, 11, pp. 174-182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2015.10.004
Authored Book
Cultural Politics and the Transatlantic Divide over GMOs
Stephan H (2015) Cultural Politics and the Transatlantic Divide over GMOs. Basingstoke: Palgrave. http://www.palgrave.com/page/detail/cultural-politics-and-the-transatlantic-divide-over-gmos-hannes-r-stephan/?isb=9780230284579
Article
Energy Justice, a Whole Systems Approach
Jenkins K, McCauley DA, Heffron RJ & Stephan H (2014) Energy Justice, a Whole Systems Approach. Queen’s Political Review, II (2), pp. 74-87. https://queenspoliticalreview.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/article-5-energy-justice-a-whole-systems-approach-p74-87.pdf
Article
Advancing Energy Justice: The Triumvirate of Tenets
McCauley DA, Heffron RJ, Stephan H & Jenkins K (2013) Advancing Energy Justice: The Triumvirate of Tenets. International Energy Law Review, 32 (3), pp. 107-110.
Book Chapter
Governance Dimensions of Climate and Energy Security
Vogler J & Stephan H (2013) Governance Dimensions of Climate and Energy Security. In: Dyer H & Trombetta M (eds.) International Handbook of Energy Security. Elgar original reference. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, pp. 297-318. http://www.e-elgar.com/bookentry_main.lasso?id=15019
Book Chapter
Stripple J & Stephan H (2013) Global Governance. In: Falkner R (ed.) Handbook of Global Climate and Environment Policy. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 146-162. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/book/10.1002/9781118326213
Book Chapter
Global Climate Governance and Energy Choices
Zelli F, Pattberg P, Stephan H & van Asselt H (2013) Global Climate Governance and Energy Choices. In: Goldthau A (ed.) Handbook of Global Energy Policy. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 340-357. http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470672641,descCd-description.html
Article
Revisiting the transatlantic divergence over GMOs: Toward a cultural-political analysis
Stephan H (2012) Revisiting the transatlantic divergence over GMOs: Toward a cultural-political analysis. Global Environmental Politics, 12 (4), pp. 104-124. https://doi.org/10.1162/GLEP_a_00142
Article
International Climate Policy after Copenhagen: Towards a 'Building Blocks' Approach
Falkner R, Stephan H & Vogler J (2010) International Climate Policy after Copenhagen: Towards a 'Building Blocks' Approach. Global Policy, 1 (3), pp. 252-262. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-5899.2010.00045.x
Book Chapter
The Role of International Organizations in Global Environmental Governance
Stephan H & Zelli F (2009) The Role of International Organizations in Global Environmental Governance. In: Europa Publications (ed.) The Environment Encyclopedia and Directory 2010. 5th ed. Environment Encyclopedia and Directory. London: Routledge, pp. 3-13. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9781857433777/
Book Chapter
Cultural Context and International Environmental Co-operation: the Cartagena Protocol
Stephan H (2008) Cultural Context and International Environmental Co-operation: the Cartagena Protocol. In: Dasgupta R (ed.) Cultural Practices, Political Possibilities. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, pp. 233-259. http://www.c-s-p.org/flyers/Cultural-Practices--Political-Possibilities1-84718-477-4.htm
Article
The European Union in Global Environmental Governance: Leadership in the Making?
Vogler J & Stephan H (2007) The European Union in Global Environmental Governance: Leadership in the Making?. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 7 (4), pp. 389-413. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-007-9051-5
Book Chapter
International Organizations and the Global Environment
Stephan H & Zelli F (2007) International Organizations and the Global Environment. In: Okereke C (ed.) Politics of the Environment: A Survey. Europa Politics of ... Series. London: Routledge, pp. 52-70. http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9781857433418/
Undergraduate modules:
Postgraduate modules:
ICCPP22 (Researching International Politics)
Module coordinator
POLU9EZ (Environmental Politics in an International Context)
University of Stirling
This level 10 module is designed to survey the current literature and debate on the environment in International Relations. It combines conceptual and practical aspects of international environmental politics and encourages students to study in depth current issues such as – environmental security and sustainable development in the North and South; biodiversity, and tackling climate change.
POLU9RM (Research Methods in Politics)
University of Stirling
This module prepares students for undertaking a dissertation in Politics, International Politics or PPE. Students are introduced to research design, the literature review, and qualitative and quantitative approaches to analysing data.
Taught in 2017/18 and from 2020 to 2022.
ICCPP10 (Climate Change, Human Security, and Resource Conflicts)
University of Stirling
This module examines the role of natural resources in violent and non-violent conflicts. Based on a series of country case studies, it seeks to assess the causes, processes, solutions and implications of ‘resource conflicts’ motivated by either scarcity or abundance of resources. It explores a diverse set of theoretical literatures associated with such conflicts from the perspectives of political science, international relations, peace and conflict studies, and development studies. In particular, it assesses resource conflicts from the perspective of equity, ethics and justice within the context of resource scarcity and accelerating climate change.
POLU9DT/IT (Politics Dissertation & International Politics Dissertation)
University of Stirling
The Politics/International Politics dissertation is an extended piece of written work that allows students to investigate a particular topic of interest and explore it systematically. In coordination with a Politics member of staff, students define a project, conduct the research, and write the dissertation.
POLU9GE (Political Economy and the Global Environment)
University of Stirling
This module examines global environmental affairs through the lens of political economy. Starting with an in-depth analysis of global sustainability and drawing on key concepts from environmental economics, it considers how different actors (individuals, states, international financial institutions (e.g. World Bank), NGOs, multinational corporations) shape the global market, determine resource consumption around the world, and contribute to environmental change and degradation. Against the background of economic globalisation and trade liberalisation, students will reflect on the prospects of a global sustainability transition from four different political-economic perspectives, namely market liberalism, institutionalism, bio-environmentalism, and social ecology.
POLU9GP (Eco-Warriors and Policy-Makers: Shaping the Green State)
University of Stirling
This module offers an in-depth study of green political thinking, green actors and their involvement in different political settings such as Scotland, the UK, Germany, USA and China. The module will cover the following themes: green concepts, ideologies and approaches; state and non-state actors and their role/ influence in environmental politics; comparing different political settings and their varying degrees of green policy integration.
