The Policy SET Model - Wind Power: Politics and Policy - page 71

3.5 THE POLITICAL SET MODEL
he emphasis on politics and policy as the core theme of this wind power
difusion study prompted the development of a modiied STEP framework
that serves as the structural shell for each of the case study chapters. he
analytical framework is called the Political SET model, with the acronym SET
standing for social, economic, and technological. In short, it is a framework
based on STEP analysis theory that places politics and policy at the center
of the analysis. he model is depicted in Figure 3.1, and each of the compo-
nents will be described in further detail.
In Figure 3.1, the tips of the three SET categories are tapered into triangles
to graphically illustrate the notion that there is a hierarchy of importance
within each category. For example, for each nation examined in this topic,
some social factors are more important than other social factors in regard to
inluencing wind power development. For example, in Japan, concerns over
aesthetic impairment caused by wind power projects arguably represent the
most signiicant social barrier to wind power development. It is important
to note that the hierarchy of importance in one nation may not be the same
as the hierarchy of importance in another nation. To illustrate, in many rural
regions of China, concerns over access to electricity trump aesthetic con-
cerns. 16 Moreover, the importance of forces within a given STEP category
changes over time in response to market dynamics. In China, for instance,
Social
Political
Figure 3.1 . he Political SET Model