In Pursuit of a Fair Wind : A Case Study on Wind Farms and Large-Scale Collective Action Problems in the Lasithi Plateau

This thesis examines the green grabbing processes related to the construction of wind farms in the Lasithi Plateau in Crete and investigates how they constitute a large-scale collective action problem and how third-party interventions can contribute to its resolution. These questions fit into broader debates about environmental politics and justice, as this case shows how global energy infrastructures are implemented and impact the local level. The shift from global to local can be analyzed through concepts such as green grabbing and extractivism, which highlight the commodification and exploitation of common resources. The geopolitics of these investments reveal their political dimension, often linked to issues of security and sovereignty. This discussion is linked to the question of how to ensure a just and sustainable energy transition. To explore this, the study used ethnographic research and interviews to shed light on the experiences and perspectives of the local community. The narratives of key regional actors revealed how the practices of green grabbing are unfolding and forming a large-scale collective action problem - particularly amidst local resistance to the multinational company TERNA and the state. In contrast, third parties proposed restoring traditional and electric windmills to promote energy autonomy while avoiding industrial wind farms.