A Revival of Nuclear Power in Britain

Abstract

This chapter considers how successive British governments have sought to advance renewed investment in nuclear power through metagovernance. In this case study, we explore metagovernance under a liberal tradition of government. The chapter is divided into five sections. The first section provides a short account of nature of British government, governance and the style of government that tends to be adopted. The second section presents a brief overview of the British electricity industry, the development, deployment and decline of nuclear power and the energy challenge that Britain now faces. The third section discusses how nuclear power came to be seen as a solution to these energy challenges. The fourth section critically evaluates how the British government has sought to metagovern a revival of nuclear power through a variety of policy instruments, techniques and tools. The final section offers commentary on the limits to governance exposed by nuclear power in Britain before drawing some conclusions.