The anti-nuclear power movement in Germany Le mouvement anti-nucléaire en Allemagne Dieter Rucht Paris, 7. Mai 2009.

Präsentation zum Thema: "The anti-nuclear power movement in Germany Le mouvement anti-nucléaire en Allemagne Dieter Rucht Paris, 7. Mai 2009."—  Präsentation transkript:

1 The anti-nuclear power movement in Germany Le mouvement anti-nucléaire en Allemagne Dieter Rucht Paris, 7. Mai 2009

2 My background related to today‘s topic
Initially I had a neutral position on nuclear power Field research for my dissertation in Taking a stance Engagement in local groups (Freundeskreis Gorleben etc.) Engagement at the federal level (Bundesverband Bürgerinitiativen Umweltschutz, with Petra Kelly, Jo Leinen etc.) Disengagement after 1981; concentration on scientific work on social movements and protest mobilization Last years: low profile re-engagement, but not specifically in anti-nuclear struggles

3 The ground to be covered:
1. The subject „ 2. The context at the movement‘s rise 3. Developmental stages 3.1 The formation period 3.2. Escalation 3.3 The gradual phasing out 4. Ideology and aims 5. Organizations and networks 6. Strategies and actions 7. Impacts and perspectives

4 1. The subject „anti-nuclear (power) movement
»Die Gegner der Atomenergie sind Reaktionäre. Sie wenden sich gegen den Fortschritt. Sie wollen den Bürger mit einer Strategie des Rückschritts und der Armut beglücken.« (Helmut Kohl am anlässlich des Energie-Kongresses der CDU; zit. nach Der Spiegel vom , S. 129) »The opponents of nuclear power are reactionaries. They turn against progess. They want to make happy the citizenry by a strategy of backlash and poverty. «

5 The anti-nuclear power movement
Is it a social/political movement? Is it a new social movement? Is is part of the broader environmental movement? Is it a (trans-)national movement?

6 The anti-nuclear movement
umfasst die Individuen, Gruppen und Organisationen, die sich im Rahmen eines größeren, netzwerkartigen Zusammenhangs, dem sie sich selbst zurechnen, aktiv und insbesondere mit Mitteln des kollektiven öffentlichen Protests gegen die zivile Nutzung der Atomenergie wenden. Da potentielle Schäden, vor allem nukleare Katastrophen, mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit eine grenzüberschreitende Wirkung entfalten, bezieht sich die Ablehnung von Atomkraft in aller Regel nicht nur auf eine bestimmte Anlage, sondern richtet sich prinzipiell gegen die Einführung oder fortlaufende zivile Nutzung der Atomenergie in allen Teilen der Welt.

7 2. The context at the movement‘s rise
No direct precursor movements No nuclear weapons in the hands of the German army Early preparations for the civil use of nuclear power (1955/56) First non-experimental reactor in Kahl (1960 – later than Franc: Chinon 1957), second reactor in Grundremmingen (1966) Electricity producers reluctant towards nuclear power until 1966/67 Breakthrough with the third nuclear program ( ) Energy program of 1973 planned 20 times of the capacity existing in 1973 Public opinion generally indifferent towards nuclear power

8 3. Developmental stages Few isolated and small protests in the 50s and 70s 3.1. The formation period First organised protests 1970/71 (Neckarwesthamm, Esensham, Bonn, Breisach) Successful protest in Breisach (65,000 formal objecters), partly influence by resistance in the Alsace (Fessenheim) First demonstrations and occupation in Wyhl Creation of Bundesverband Bürgerinitiativen Umweltschutz 1972 Critical voices published in governmental booklet (BMFT 1974)

9 3.2 Escalation and Stagnation (1975-1985
Tenacious resistance in the Wyhl area „Battles“ in Brokdorf and Grohnde around 1976/77 Pro-nuclear gatherings in 1976/77 mainly supported by trade unions (Brokdorf, Mühlheim, Bonn and, above all, Dortmund with 35,000 participants) Mass demonstrations in Brokdorf, Kalkar (Fast Breeder), Bonn and Hannover Gorleben as the key conflict, spurred by the Three Mile Island event Alternative lists and the green party Increase of sabotage activities ( ) Wackersdorf as an additional focus of conflict (880,000 formal objections) Chernobyl as the turning point

10 3.3 The gradual phasing out
1986: Social Democrats opt for phasing out Trade unions increasingly critical of nuclear power No additional nuclear power capacity Decreasing anti-nuclear mobilization 1992/93 first round consensus negotions; decision in 2000 Castor transports as a new issue until today

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12 Abbildung 1: Entwicklung von Protesten gegen die zivile Nutzung von Atomenergie in der Bundesrepublik, Quelle: Prodat/Rucht

13 Abbildung 2: Entwicklung der Teilnehmerzahl an Protesten gegen die zivile Nutzung von Atomenergie in der Bundesrepublik, Quelle: Prodat/Rucht

14 4. Ideology, arguments and aims
Mainly left-wing Conservative groups particularly in rural areas (farmes, wine growers) Small pocket of right-extremists Major lines of arguments: - Risk of nuclear accidents (internally and externally triggered) - Risk of low-level radiation - Unsolved nuclear waste problems - Undesireable structures (industrial-military complex, centralization, undemocratic decision-making) - economically not viable

15 5. Organizations and networks
Strongly decentralized network Regional strongholds (Baden-Alsace - 60 groups in 1977, Gorleben, Brokdorf, Wackersdorf, Ahaus etc.) Autonomous local groups, grassroots groups, direct action groups (Gewalfreie Aktion, X-tausendmal quer…) „Federal conferences“ (Bundeskonferenz, Atommüllkonferenz) National umbrella association (BBU) (Inter-)National environmental organizations (BUND, NABU, Greenpeace, Robin Wood, FoE Europe) (Sections of) political parties, trade unions, churches, youth organizations, e.g. Christdemokraten gegen Atomenergie, Aktionskreis Leben…) Scientific networks and environmental institutes (Öko-Institut)

16 6. Strategies and actions
Informing and education the public Collections of signatures Juridical and procedural complaints Electoral and parliamentary activities Demonstrations, rallies Occupations, blockades Sabotage, physical violence Promotion of energy saving and regenerative energies Remarkable shifts of strategies over time

17 Proteste gegen Castor-Transport bei Gorleben: Atomkraftgegner blockieren die Gleis für den Castor-Transport

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19 Tabelle 1: Aktionstypen von Protesten gegen Atomenergie, 1970-2004 Quelle: Prodat/Rucht

20 7. Impacts and perspectives
Nuclear energy is still in place (accounts for about one quarter of the electricity production) BUT: - Public awareness & information Agenda setting Changes of energy consumption patterns Drastic reduction of nuclear programs Tightened security standards No new orders of reactors since the late 70s Prevention of specific projects (Wyhl, Kalkar, WAA Gorleben and Wackersdorf) Successful promotion of „soft“ energies

21 …and perspectives New attempts of pro-nuclear forces to extend the operation of reactors or even to cancel the phasing out BUT Solid and stable majority in the population against nuclear power (two thirds) Survival of rudimentary anti-nuclear networks High awareness of current and former activists  A revival of nuclear power in Germany is unlikely.