Introduction A just transition for whom? Policy grammars and grammars of communities

This chapter explores the disconnect between top-down just transition (JT) policies and the lived experiences of marginalized communities in the so-called just transition regions in Europe. While the European Commission’s (EC’s) Just Transition Mechanism aspires to mitigate the social and economic impact of the European Green Deal, it is driven by a policy grammar that reflects abstract language shaped by policymakers. We define policy grammars as mechanisms that bind principles, territories, and instruments together. A policy grammar is distinct from discourses because both sender and receiver influence how a policy grammar is activated and applied. Next, we explore the concept of grammars of communities to describe the more practical needs of marginalized communities. The concepts of policy grammars and grammars of communities are used throughout to show the (mis)alignment of the goals and needs of policymakers and communities. This (mis)alignment can help to understand why JT policies can also lead to political polarization and disaffection.