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Concerned public and the paralysis of decision-making: nuclear waste management policy in Germany

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  • Peter Hocke
  • Ortwin Renn

Abstract

Efforts to site a high level nuclear waste repository in Germany date back to the 1960s. Ten years later the site Gorleben was officially selected and designated as a host for nuclear waste. However, public opposition and maneuvering by the major political actors prevented the completion of the site selection process, resulting in decades of political paralysis. The main reasons for this failure were the polarization in advocates and opponents of nuclear energy, the neglect for due process and participatory procedures, the inability to integrate technical, political, and social rationales in designing a viable nuclear waste policy, and the confusing mix of responsibilities between and among political actors. In spite of the apparent failure to find a solution for high level waste, the German government succeeded in designating a site for radioactive waste with negligible heat generation (Konrad mine). It is assumed that further progress in waste management can be accomplished only if more deliberative elements are introduced into the policy arena.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Hocke & Ortwin Renn, 2009. "Concerned public and the paralysis of decision-making: nuclear waste management policy in Germany," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(7-8), pages 921-940, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:jriskr:v:12:y:2009:i:7-8:p:921-940
    DOI: 10.1080/13669870903126382
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rucht, Dieter, 1980. "Von Wyhl nach Gorleben: Bürger gegen Atomprogramm und nukleare Entsorgung," EconStor Books, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, volume 127, number 112641, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Perlaviciute, Goda & Steg, Linda, 2014. "Contextual and psychological factors shaping evaluations and acceptability of energy alternatives: Integrated review and research agenda," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 361-381.
    2. Patrick Ilg & Silke Gabbert & Hans‐Peter Weikard, 2017. "Nuclear Waste Management under Approaching Disaster: A Comparison of Decommissioning Strategies for the German Repository Asse II," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(7), pages 1213-1232, July.
    3. László Berényi & Zoltán Birkner & Nikolett Deutsch, 2020. "A Multidimensional Evaluation of Renewable and Nuclear Energy among Higher Education Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-22, February.
    4. Henry Rothstein & Olivier Borraz & Michael Huber, 2013. "Risk and the limits of governance: Exploring varied patterns of risk‐based governance across Europe," Regulation & Governance, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 7(2), pages 215-235, June.

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