Nuclear Energy in Western Europe: Revival or Rejection? An Introduction

Wolfgang Claudius Müller, Paul W. Thurner

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Abstract

The chapter introduces the main research questions of the present volume: Why do nations make different decisions on nuclear energy and why some of the decisions are upheld but others reversed. To illustrate the relevance of the research question, the chapter outlines the history of nuclear energy that has gone through ups and downs and displays great inter-country variation. It gives particular attention to the two most recent periods of ‘nuclear revival’ (beginning in the late 1990s/early 2000s) and then the post-Fukushima bifurcation of national nuclear energy policies in which many countries stick to their path whereas others make reversals. The chapter identifies the international drivers of nuclear energy policy – factors that influence all countries to varying degrees depending very much on context constellations. The chapter concludes with a plan of the book.
Translated title of the contributionAtomenergie in Westeuropa: Rivival oder Ablehnung? Eine Einleitung
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Politics of Nuclear Energy in Western Europe
EditorsWolfgang C. Müller, Paul W. Thurner
Place of PublicationOxford
PublisherOxford University Press
Pages1-20
Number of pages21
ISBN (Print)978-0-19-874703-1
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 506001 General theory of the state
  • 506004 European integration

Keywords

  • Nuclear energy
  • party competition
  • energy policy

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