Conflict in the Sea of Trafalgar: offshore wind energy and its context

This paper analyses a participatory process related to the plan to construct an offshore wind farm in the Sea of Trafalgar, off the coast of Cadiz, in Andalucia (southern Spain). This case study shows the complexities of public participation in energy development, indicating the vital importance of context. The stakeholders' values and attitudes in the controversy are highly dependent on the specific situation, including the concrete characteristics of the project proposal. In fact, they may diverge sharply from the stakeholders' core beliefs. It is important for decision making to take account of this contextual and dynamic element in stakeholder behavior, contrary to suppositions of static and predetermined behavior. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.