Nuclear Energy Policy Research Articles

Conflicting conceptualisations of ‘democracy’ in the German Bundestag during the anti-nuclear demonstrations, 1995–2001

SUMMARYA vigorous anti-nuclear movement emerged in Germany in the mid 1990s, when spent nuclear fuel elements began to be transported to the interim storage facility in Gorleben, Lower Saxony. Resistance to nuclear transportation continued to grow in strength throughout the 1990s. The protests expressed people’s distrust and lack of confidence in political institutions and decision-making processes. In the German Bundestag, these events relating to Gorleben caused significant political struggles over the principles and meanings of German democracy. Parliamentarians voiced competing counterarguments about the legitimacy of these demonstrations, on the one hand, and the legitimacy of the nuclear energy policy of the federal government, on the other. Ideas about liberal democracy and the tradition of the 1968 generation and new social movements clashed in the Bundestag. By applying methods of conceptual analysis to parliamentary research, this article discusses conflicting conceptualisations of democracy in the German parliament. Analysis of political language enables discussions on competing ideas, attitudes and conceptions in policy-making. The Bundestag argued about democratic beliefs and values, which legitimated parliamentary policy-making. In particular, interpretations of violence in a democratic state, the principle of majority rule and the legitimacy of decision-making were explicitly debated in the German parliament.

Analysis of Power Supply Cost According to Nuclear and Renewable Energy Policies

Analysis of Power Supply Cost According to Nuclear and Renewable Energy Policies

Role of the French Parliamentary Office in Changing Nuclear Energy Policy

Role of the French Parliamentary Office in Changing Nuclear Energy Policy

Nuclear energy discourse in Turkish media

Nuclear power plants, viewed as alternative energy resources in energy production, have become a hot topic especially after the disaster having taken place in Chernobyl and Fukushima. Turkey focuses on nuclear power plant construction, trying to decrease her energy dependency on other countries. The discourse about nuclear energy co-exists with the different social actors and their practices as the stakeholders, like governments, opposition parties, industry partners, NGOs, and the locals. In this study, the reactions about Turkey’s first proposed nuclear power plant to be constructed in Akkuyu are dealt with from the context of news discourse. The developments as to the construction of the plant will be analyzed from an integrated perspective called political economy. To that end, the developments experienced between 2010 and 2017 were analyzed from the perspective of five politically differing newspapers, which are Birgun, Cumhuriyet, Hurriyet, Sabah and Yeni Safak. Those closely affiliated with the government write in favor of nuclear energy policies whereas the ones in opposition give room to the opposing news and events.

The effects of the Fukushima disaster on nuclear energy debates and policies: a two-step comparative examination

ABSTRACTUnder what conditions do critical events trigger large-scale public discussion and mobilisation, and can these lead to policy change? In a comparative study of nuclear energy policy after the Japanese Fukushima disaster in March 2011, a theory-development approach is adopted, mobilising data collected from national news agencies’ newswires, public surveys, legislation and parliamentary databases, and newspaper editorials in 12 established democracies between March 2011 and March 2013. The analysis suggests two main hypotheses that can guide future research: critical events are more likely to trigger policy change when intense (contentious) mobilisation from policy challengers aligns with the views of the general public, and is backed by major political allies; and critical events are more likely to trigger intense (contentious) mobilisation when policy challengers articulate their opposition around pre-existing policy debates on the issue and resort to pre-existing organisational and mobilisation resources.

Russian nuclear energy diplomacy in Finland and Hungary

We compare Russian nuclear energy diplomacy toward Finland and Hungary, where the Russian state corporation Rosatom intends to build nuclear power plants by the 2020s. Russian nuclear energy diplomacy features Rosatom working with other state institutions, its own subsidiaries, and an extensive network of companies and R&D actors to support Russian nuclear power projects abroad. Using the structuration approach, we find three interests driving such diplomacy: energy business and associated profits; modernization of the Russian economy, including the diversification of its export structure; while foreign policy interests are also involved, considering the constraints emerging in EU–Russia energy diplomacy in the oil and gas sectors, including the sanctions since 2014. Some domestic actors in Finland and Hungary make the linkage between nuclear energy and foreign policy as explicit as do some Western commentators. Seeking to pursue these interests, Russian actors must accommodate their considerable assets to the structural constraints they encounter in the target countries. We identify four structural dimensions: the Russian actors are well endowed as regards the resources, technology, and infrastructure dimension; and the dimension of finance, business models, and markets. However, on the institutional dimension, they face a less controllable environment. Regarding the ecological dimension, they must conform to local safety requirements. In both cases, Russian actors were able to strengthen perceptions of joint interests with actors in the target country facilitating the nuclear power plant projects, thereby paving the way for the use of soft power.

東日本大震災後の政治意識と社会階層 - 復興政策と原発政策への志向に関する計量分析 -

本論の目的は、復興に関する政策と、原子力発電政策への志向に関して、その規定 因を解明することである。とくに、政策志向と社会階層の間に関連があるか解明する。 2014年11月以降に東京都、仙台市、福島市にて、独自の統計的社会調査を行った。 復興についての国民の意見反映については、階層帰属意識の規定力が強く、高階層ほ ど意見が反映されていると答える傾向があった。また、社会への不公平感が強いと、意 見が反映されていないと答える傾向があった。原発政策志向に関しては、年齢が負の大 きな規定力を持ち、高年齢の人は原発に対して否定的である。福島では、政治的有効 感が高いほど、また社会不公平感が低いほど、原発に肯定的だった。被災者に対する 政府支援については、階層帰属意識は正の有意な規定力を持つ。また福島では、福島 市内に長く住む人ほど、支援が十分ではないと答えていた。原発避難者に対する支援に ついては、高年齢ほど、もっと支援した方がよいと答えていた。政策志向の規定因として は、多くの場合、階層帰属意識や社会不公平感が有意だった。本人が帰属する社会階 層により政策志向は異なる。また、社会不公平感という現体制評価は、様々な政策志向 の基礎的な規定要因であった。原発政策に関しては、転入者であることは負の規定力が あり、｢転勤族｣という特徴が、現代社会において重要であることを示唆している。性別ダ ミー変数も多くの場合に有意であり、政策志向の男女差は有意に大きいことが、重要な発 見であった。

Risk politics and the pro-nuclear growth coalition in Japan in relation to the Fukushima

This paper focuses on the development of the pro-nuclear growth coalition in Japan. It also describes how, after the Fukushima disaster, the coalition was challenged by an increasing number of anti-nuclear movements and scientific discussions of nuclear energy policies. By analyzing the risk politics associated with nuclear power, the study helps explain the development of pro-nuclear narratives and the pro-nuclear coalition. Based on archival analysis of accounts from the media, governments, and experts, it argues that governmental and nongovernmental actors in Japan and the United States formed a pro-nuclear growth coalition to pursue economic growth and then cooperated to promote pro-nuclear energy policies. The research also illustrates that post-Fukushima risk narratives challenged pro-nuclear energy policies and the dominance of the pro-nuclear growth coalition with fear. Although anti-nuclear sentiment has increased after Fukushima, it has not coalesced enough to be considered a consensus.

Main corrective measures in an early phase of nuclear power plants’ preparation for safe long term operation

This paper presents the analysis of main technical deficiencies of nuclear power plants (NPPs) in preparedness for safe long term operation (LTO) and the main corrective measures in an early phase of preparation for safe LTO of NPPs. It focuses on technical aspects connected with management of physical ageing of NPP structures, systems and components (SSCs). It uses as a basis results of IAEA SALTO missions performed between 2005 and 2016 (see also paper NED8805 in Nuclear Engineering and Design in May 2016) and the personal experiences of the authors with preparation of NPPs for safe LTO. This paper does not discuss other important aspects of safe LTO of NPPs, e.g. national nuclear energy policies, compliance of NPPs with the latest international requirements on design, obsolescence, environmental impact and economic aspects of LTO. Chapter 1 provides a brief introduction of the current status of the NPP’ fleet in connection with LTO. Chapter 2 provides an overview of SALTO peer review service results with a focus on deficiencies related to physical ageing of safety SSCs and a demonstration that SSCs will perform their safety function during the intended period of LTO. Chapter 3 discusses the main corrective measures which NPPs typically face during the preparation for demonstration of safe LTO. Chapter 4 summarizes the current status of the NPP’ fleet in connection with LTO and outlines further steps needed in preparation for safe LTO.

Book Review: Keith Baker and Gerry Stoker, Nuclear Power and Energy Policy: The Limits to Governance

Book Review: Keith Baker and Gerry Stoker, <i>Nuclear Power and Energy Policy: The Limits to Governance</i>

Policy Diffusion among Democracies and Autocracies: A Comparison of Trade Reforms and Nuclear Energy Policy

AbstractThis paper reviews the existing comparative literature with regard to differences and similarities of policy diffusion between democratic and authoritarian regimes. There has been an extensive discussion of causes and effects of policy diffusion for democracies, but the literature on autocracies lacks similar focus and scope. Similarly, research on the patterns and causes of policies’ diffusion across regime types is virtually non‐existent. After some theoretical considerations about regime effects on diffusion in the first part of this paper, we analyse data on foreign trade regulations and nuclear power plants and compare results across regime types. Based on cross‐time cross‐section regression models, we can show that, depending on the specific policy field, regime type is of less importance for diffusion processes than theoretically expected. This highlights a need for further detailed research on the general role of regime type regarding policy diffusion.

Government Trust and Policy Response

본 연구는 Hirschman(1970)이 제시한 세 가지 정책반응행태를 적용하여 일반 국민이 지니고 있는정부 신뢰수준과 원자력 발전정책에 대한 반응행태를 분석하였다. 분석 결과 첫째, 항의는 다양한인구통계 요인에 의해 차이가 발생하는 것에 비해, 이탈과 충성은 차이를 발생시키는 요인이 단순하다. 둘째, 정부 신뢰수준이 높은 집단과 낮은 집단 모두에서 다양한 반응행태가 나타나며, 중앙정부보다 지방정부 신뢰수준에 따라 반응행태의 차이가 더욱 명확하게 드러났다. 셋째, 위험인식 수준이 높은 집단은 이탈이 높은 반면, 위험인식 수준이 낮은 집단은 항의가 높다. 마지막으로, 정부 신뢰수준이 높을수록 이탈이 감소하고 충성이 증가한다. 특히 지방정부 신뢰수준은 이탈과 충성을 결정하는 중요한 요인이다. 본 연구는 주민들이 현 거주지를 이탈할 가능성과 그렇지 않고 충성할 가능성에 지방정부에 대한 신뢰가 결정적 역할을 할 수 있음을 시사한다.This study analyzed public trust in government and public response to nuclear energy policy in Korea, applying Hirschman’s exit-voice-loyalty (EVL) model. Especially, in order to complement the limitation of the existing studies, we considered trust in central government and local government separately. The results are as follows. First, various demographic variables affect positive perception on the degree of ‘Voice’, while the degrees of ‘Exit’ and ‘Loyalty’ are influenced by simple factors. Second, the possibility of ‘Exit’ was highest in the group of high-risk perception, while the highest possibility of ‘Voice’ was found in the group of low-risk perception. Lastly, the higher level of public trust in government, the lower possibility of ‘Exit’ and the higher possibility of ‘Loyalty’. In particular, we found that trust in local government is the core determinant of both ‘Exit’ and ‘Loyalty’ behaviors.

How do policymakers and think tank stakeholders prioritize the risks of the nuclear fuel cycle? A semantic network analysis

In recent years, the importance of stakeholder involvement and of integrating diverse perspectives into risk management has gained increasing recognition. However, it remains a challenging task to identify all potentially relevant stakeholders and to reliably describe their deeply held beliefs regarding the risks associated with complex industrial systems. For example, the development of advanced nuclear fuel cycles presents such a case. Based on a review of policy-making literatures and a content analysis of congressional records, we identify federal agencies and nonprofit policy institutes (also known as ‘think tanks’) as key stakeholders that are representative of those actively involved in making high-level decisions on the US nuclear energy policy. Using a semantic network analysis approach, we visually delineate the thematic areas of each party’s perceptions concerning fuel cycle risks. The results show that although governmental and think tank stakeholders share common concerns in areas such as nuclear waste management, the economics of nuclear facilities, and proliferation, they tend to focus on distinct aspects of each area. Moreover, while governmental stakeholders are primarily concerned with the environmental and local impacts of nuclear fuel cycles, think tank stakeholders focus more on the relative advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy compared to other alternative energy options. Implications for risk management and risk communication are discussed.

Advocacy Group Messaging on Social Media: Using the Narrative Policy Framework to Study Twitter Messages about Nuclear Energy Policy in the United States

Increasingly, policy scholars are using the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) to systematically study the narrative elements and strategies that policy actors and groups use to advance their agendas. The majority of these studies analyze reports, documents, and websites published by the actors and groups that are most active in the policy subsystem. Though useful, these “public consumption documents” can be difficult to find and relatively static. In this article, we suggest that the constant flow of messages and content that competing actors and groups publish on social media may provide a solution to this problem. To test this proposition, we use the NPF to analyze messages published on Twitter by competing advocacy groups in the U.S. nuclear energy policy subsystem from January 2014 to May 2014 (n = 703). We find that both groups use Twitter to disseminate messages that contain the basic elements of policy narratives. Moreover, the narratives they use include strategies that are consistent with their position in the subsystem. These findings demonstrate the utility of the NPF for research on social media and, more importantly, validate the use of Twitter data in future work on the NPF.

Strategic trends and barriers for future energy policy

ABSTRACTGlobal investment in energy supply infrastructure of 38 trillion dollar is required over the period 2011–2035. Sustainable energy future of world will be influenced by some strategic trends. These trends are nuclear energy policy after Fukushima, climate change policy, developments in global oil market, renewable energy, shale gas, and electricity access problem. The basic goal of this study is providing some information of strategic trends and barriers for global energy policy.

Nuclear power and energy policy: the limits to governance

1. A Revival of Nuclear Power? 2. The Political Economy of Nuclear Power 3. Governance and the Limits of Governance Theory 4. A Framework for Understanding Governance in Practice 5. A Revival of Nuclear Power in Britain 6. A Revival of Nuclear Power in the United States 7. A Revival of Nuclear Power in France 8. A Revival of Nuclear Power in Finland 9. Conclusions: The Limits of Governance

A computable general equilibrium assessment of Japan’s nuclear energy policy and implications for renewable energy

This study assesses the economic and environmental impacts of Japan’s nuclear power scenarios and examines the implications for renewable energy. To assess nuclear power scenarios, we use the following three scenarios: “new policy scenario” of the International Energy Agency as a reference; a 40-year operational time limit of nuclear power plants; and no restart of nuclear power plants. For all scenarios, renewable energy with feed-in tariffs is considered. In addition, to assess the impact on the international competitiveness of Japanese industry, we construct a multi-regional, recursive dynamic computable general equilibrium model based on version 8.1 of the Global Trade Analysis Project database. Compared to the reference scenario, the other two scenarios increase CO2 emissions through an increase in fossil fuel electricity generation and decreases Japan’s real gross domestic product, although renewable energy supply also increases. In particular, a nuclear power phase-out negatively impacts Japan’s energy-intensive and trade-exposed sectors. However, our model does not consider externalities from fossil fuel usage and nuclear risk. The results of this simulation study represent the first step in answering important questions on energy policy but further research on externalities of fossil fuel and nuclear power usage should be conducted.

Overcoming the framing problem—a critical-ethical perspective on the need to integrate social sciences and humanities and stakeholder contributions in EURATOM radiation protection research

This paper introduces the ‘framing problem’ as the problem of the limited potential of critical reflection on the societal justification and use of nuclear energy technology as a contribution to European radiation protection research, given that the research is itself driven by EURATOM’s pro-nuclear political position. The idea is that the problem of policy framing could in principle be ‘overcome’ by the integration of social sciences and humanities and stakeholder contributions in that research, taking into account that this approach could help to raise critical awareness with the involved researchers and policy makers of the issues of fairness of risk justification in society and of the consequences thereof for nuclear energy policy and policy-supportive research itself.

Coal, nuclear and renewable energy policies in Germany: From the 1950s to the “Energiewende”

Over the last 50 years, German energy policy has ranged from strong enthusiasm for both coal and nuclear energy to deep skepticism. The most dramatic changes with respect to energy policies have occurred as a response to nuclear accidents, yet the accidental and unintended effects of coal policies are also important in influencing the trajectory. The newly emerging climate debate prevented the coal industry from acting as a substitute for the diminishing share of nuclear power. In 2011 the conservative government announced the Energiewende (‘energy transformation’) and decided to reduce the amount of fossil fuels from 80% of the energy supply to 20% by 2050. However, while the verdict on nuclear was unequivocal with a final phase-out date of 2022, the share of coal in the electricity market did not decrease and the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air slightly increased from 2011 to 2013. There are growing conflicts over the immediate costs and practicalities of coal replacement. Consequently, the future of coal in Germany is still relatively open and contested.

Rebirth, Devastation and Sickness: Analyzing the Role of Metaphor in Media Discourses of Nuclear Power

ABSTRACTNuclear power plays an important but controversial role in policies to ensure domestic energy security, fuel poverty reduction and the mitigation of climate change. Our article construes the problem of nuclear power in terms of social discourse, language and public choice; specifically examining the role that metaphors play in the policy domain. We empirically analyze metaphors as framing devices in nuclear energy policy debates in the UK between April 2009 and March 2013, thereby capturing the impact of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. We employ documentary analysis of major UK national broadsheet and tabloid newspapers, using electronic bibliographic tools to extract the metaphors. We then map these metaphors using a Type Hierarchy Analysis, which examines how elements of the target domain (energy technologies and policies) originate from a different source domain. Type hierarchies identify and categorize metaphors, defining the affectual and emotional responses associated with them, providing us with grounded insight into their role in shaping discourse and as a consequence influence public engagement with energy policy. Our analysis highlights three emergent domains of discourse metaphors and discusses the implications of their deployment. Metaphors were found to be classified into three different categories: Rebirth (Renaissance), Devastation (Apocalypse, Inferno, Genie and Bomb) and Sickness (Addiction and Smoking).