Nuclear Energy vs. Safety: Germany's Decision to Phase-out its Nuclear Energy after the Fukushima Incident

Abstract

This thesis investigates the causes behind Germanys most recent nuclear phase-out decision in that causational relationship on this decision is not clearly identified. In this sense, it uses three independent variables– public opinion, political dynamics, and the existence of alternatives–to explain policy outcome and the Fukushima accident is considered as the externally driven factor which provides an opportunity for nuclear energy policy change. Thereby, this study offers key implications for understanding Germanys nuclear phase-out decision. First, the mostcompelling factor for nuclear phase-out was the state election results in 2011. It fertilized the nuclear phase-out decision of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) because the party lost a key state that it had never lost in 58 years. Second, anti-nuclear movement expanded their influence to German society and its argument gradually soaked into the public. This trend met the Fukushima accident and the public strongly required nuclear phase-out. Third, the Green Party entered into the political system with providing a political channel for anti-nuclear advocates and the Social Democratic Party (SPD) changed their position to nuclear phase-out. Lastly, growth of renewable energy sources made nuclear phase-out possible because it could substitute electricity production of nuclear energy. Thus, the Fukushima accident provided an opportunity for Germany to implement nuclear phase-out policy, and its political situation and historical experience fertilized phase-out decision.