Negotiating the future: legitimacy and power dynamics in Europe's twin transition

The 'twin transition' – the parallel digitalisation and decarbonisation – is being pursued by the European Union as a transformative strategy to combine sustainability and competitiveness. This paper examines the dynamics of this process by applying field theory and legitimacy theory, as well as situation-analytical mapping. The analysis demonstrates that the 'twin transition' is not only a technological, but also a profoundly social and political process of negotiation, characterised by competing interests and normative tensions. Digital technologies are presented as instruments for enhancing efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. However, the results indicate that rebound effects and increasing resource consumption frequently counteract these objectives. Furthermore, the underlying power asymmetries between the Global North and South serve to reinforce existing inequalities. Geopolitical tensions and the control over technological standards are proving to be central areas of conflict, while normative narratives such as resilience and sustainability are being strategically mobilised to secure legitimacy.