NeNuG - Network Nuclear Memory, Reappraisal of the German nuclear conflict

The historical conflict over nuclear power in Germany has manifested itself over decades in resistance to various nuclear facilities and to nuclear waste transports. The polarization between the state and the nuclear industry, on the one hand, and the anti-nuclear movement, on the other, has recently become visible again in the state's dialogue efforts to restart the selection of a site for a repository, which were rejected by most anti-nuclear initiatives.

So far, this conflict has been dealt with only sporadically by scholars. A well-founded (historical and sociological) analysis of the social developments and controversies has not taken place. Various actors see this as an important reason why social polarization remains strong. The aspect that lost trust in nuclear policy issues must first be restored through systematic reflection on the history of the repository and activities to come to terms with the past is frequently addressed. At the conference "Alles falsch gemacht" (Everything done wrong), for example, the Citizens' Initiative for Environmental Protection Lüchow-Dannenberg devoted itself to this topic at the beginning of 2016. The National Citizens’ Oversight Committee (NBG), which accompanies the German site selection procedure for a repository for high-level radioactive waste, also calls for addressing the historically grown causes of the population's distrust of state institutions.

In view of the upcoming challenges of the site selection process and also against the background that many contemporary witnesses have now reached an advanced age, there is a great interest on the part of some initiatives as well as in scientific institutions to explore possibilities for a more in-depth examination of the German nuclear conflict and its reappraisal. Looking back also provides insights with regard to the conflicts that have arisen in the environment of renewable energies in recent years.

This project aims to contribute to the reappraisal of historical contexts of the nuclear energy conflict in Germany.

Specifically, the project aims to process and make use of the knowledge and different perspectives of various actors on the nuclear conflict, as well as to identify and analyze the main lines of conflict, their causes, interrelationships and effects, and to evaluate their impact on current developments.