The Decline of Civil Nuclear Power Programs
The decline of civil nuclear power programs: Why state-owned enterprises hold the key to success in the Post-Fukushima Era. John Lambert A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in International Studies University of Washington 2021 Committee: Christopher Jones Halvor Undem 2021 Program Authorized to Offer Degree: Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies ©Copyright 2021 John Lambert ii | Page University of Washington Abstract The decline of civil nuclear power programs: Why state-owned enterprises hold the key to success in Post-Fukushima Era. John Lambert Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Christopher Jones Department of International Studies Civil nuclear power is declining in Canada, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, and rapidly expanding in China, France, India, Russia, and South Korea. The disaster at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant changed the future of nuclear power. For some states that means drastic shifts away from nuclear, and for others it means that the future of nuclear just became more difficult and expensive. This paper seeks to examine the role that state-owned enterprises play in advancing nuclear programs, and the difficulties that states without state-owned enterprises will face in this new future. A state-owned enterprise is a corporation that conducts the business of the state, and is either wholly owned by the government, or controlled by a government ownership of majority shares in a private corporation. (e.g., Amtrak, Freddie Mac, etc.) I posit that the presence of state-owned enterprises, or a government’s controlling interest in a private nuclear energy corporation, enables governments to advance their state’s civil nuclear power programs.
[Show full text]