Nuclear Energy in Europe: Double book discussion: Engaging the Atom. A history of nuclear energy and society & Pathways into and out of nuclear power

Beginn: 18:30 Uhr

Diskussion: Nuclear Energy in Europe: Double book discussion:
Engaging the Atom. A history of nuclear energy and society & Pathways into and out of nuclear power

Kommentar: Stephen Milder (München)

Die Sitzung ist dem kürzlich verstorbenen Kollegen Christian Forstner gewidmet.

Veranstaltung im Berlin-Brandenburger Colloquium für Umweltgeschichte im Wintersemester 2022/23
Veranstalter: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin in Kooperation mit dem Leibniz-Zentrum für Zeithistorische Forschung

Das Gesamtprogramm des BBC im WS 2022/23 finden Sie auf der ZZF Website hier und in der pdf im Anhang.

Zur Diskussion:
In the wake of the Russian attack on Ukraine and the end of European reliance on Russian fossil fuels, the controversy about nuclear energy, its future, its role in combating climate change and the security of energy supply is back with a vengeance. The two new books that will be discussed in this session provide the historical background necessary for understanding to these debates. They focus on the ambivalent and change-prone history of relations of nuclear energy and society in Europe. Both books present key results from the EU-funded research project “History of Nuclear Energy and Society (HoNESt)”, 2015-2019. Edited by Astrid M. Kirchhof, Pathways into and out of Nuclear Power (open access, Deutsches Museum Verlag) presents and compares the experience of nuclear energy and society in five European countries, where nuclear energy was never introduced, or that have decided to phase out – but not necessarily implemented the plan. Case studies on Austria, Denmark, West Germany, Italy and Sweden, explore the differences between public debates, social movements, politics and the strength of what has been characterised as the nuclear-industrial complex. Edited by Arne Kaijser, Markku Lehtonen, Jan-Henrik Meyer, and Mar Rubio-Varas, Engaging the Atom. A history of nuclear energy and society in Europe synthesises the results of primary research on 20 countries in Europe – East and West – and North America, and offers a unique and innovative interdisciplinary account. Chapters explore the economic, societal and political dynamics connected to the growth and decline – or persistence – of nuclear energy, and explain this variety. Chapters cover issues such as social movements, international organisations, the role of trust, the experience of nuclear installations at the border or the specific dynamics of nuclear energy as a “public technology”.

In Gedenken an Christian Forstner:
This debate is devoted to the memory of our late colleague Christian Forstner. Christian was a principal investigator and a thoughtful, extremely knowledgeable and generous collaborator in our project, and a friend. His insightful account on the Austrian experience – based on his much wider study of nuclear physics in Central Europe – in the Pathways volume is highly recommended. Many of the insights we gained from his work are reflected in numerous chapters throughout both volume.