Experimentalist governance at work: insights from the EU’s instrument for pre-accession in Turkey’s renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors

OpenAlex İngilizce

This study examines the European Union’s (EU) Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) as a framework for experimentalist governance, with a focus on Turkey’s renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. Drawing on nine semi-structured interviews with stakeholders across national and local levels, the research investigates how IPA-funded initiatives foster compliance with EU standards. Findings reveal that IPA mechanisms enhance administrative capacity and promote actor socialization, yet structural inefficiencies and limited peer review hinder optimal outcomes. While IPA projects advance institutional alignment and attract external investments, the persistence of hierarchical constraints and inconsistent local engagement challenges the principles of experimentalist governance. By analyzing Turkey’s experience, this study contributes to understanding the dynamics of compliance in candidate states and highlights the dual potential of the IPA as a tool for sustainable policy implementation and as a model for iterative governance in diverse political contexts.