Abstract
This study aims to understand how paradoxical relations in place-based governance can be managed in favour of a local sustainable development. The empirical focus involves the energy transition dynamics in the state of Ceará, Brazil, whose efforts propelled the state from an almost non-existent producer to energy self-sufficiency. Our phenomenon-based research strategy identifies paradoxical political, economic, and social relations as both socially constructed by the governance developed at the subnational level and enmeshed within the Brazilian institutional system. While this dynamic favours the renewable energy sector, it also hinders sustainable development and excludes local communities and authorities from the decision-making process. By capturing the complexity of interactions and providing a macro-level view of paradoxes, we deepen our understanding of how paradoxical place-based governance relations manifest and impact local community livelihoods. This insight is necessary for attending the affected communities' needs, thus promoting a just energy transition.