Post-Fukushima Japan: The continuing nuclear controversy

Shun Deng Fam, Jieru Xiong, Gordon Xiong, Ding Li Yong and Daniel Ng

Energy Policy, 2014, vol. 68, issue C, 199-205

Abstract: The Fukushima disaster was a wake-up call for the nuclear industry as well as a shocking revelation of the inner workings of the Japanese power sector. The political fallout from the event was far-reaching, pushing governments into abandoning nuclear expansion, turning instead to fossil fuels and renewable energy alternatives. While the move away from nuclear energy was deemed a move critical to political survival in Europe, we find that political candidates running on anti-nuclear platforms did not win elections, while the pro-nuclear Liberal Democratic Party won government in the 2012 elections. Against this backdrop, we analyse the energy conflict in Japan using a framework of values versus interests and consider the regulatory and cultural conditions that contributed to the disaster. A number of considerations lie in the way of an organised phase-out of nuclear power in Japan. We also consider the possible policy paths Japan may take.

Keywords: Fukushima; Energy conflict; Politics; Amakaduri; Gakubatsu; Nuclear (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:enepol:v:68:y:2014:i:c:p:199-205

DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2014.01.014

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