Greening the Chinese Leviathan: China’s renewable energy governance as a source of soft power

This article examines China’s rapid and large-scale renewable energy expansion the challenge it presents to orthodox approaches sustainable diffusion that emphasise soft interventions stakeholder participation. We show China eschewed participatory modes of governance pursued a centrally steered, hard interventionist strategy adapted its non-democratic regime. observe approach provides an alternative blueprint for development is potentially attractive some audiences. Drawing on recent power debates, we argue mode in renewables sector has potential enhance Chinese both domestically abroad.