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RADIOACTIVE REVERSAL? THE FUKUSHIMA ACCIDENT AS A FOCUSING EVENT FOR COMPARATIVE POLICY CHANGE ON NUCLEAR ENERGY by Victoria Justine Sanchez A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the University of Delaware in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science and International Relations. Summer 2017 © 2017 Victoria Justine Sanchez All Rights Reserved RADIOACTIVE REVERSAL? THE FUKUSHIMA ACCIDENT AS A FOCUSING EVENT FOR COMPARATIVE POLICY CHANGE ON NUCLEAR ENERGY by Victoria Justine Sanchez Approved: __________________________________________________________ David P. Redlawsk, Ph.D. Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Relations Approved: __________________________________________________________ George H. Watson, Ph.D. Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Approved: __________________________________________________________ Ann L. Ardis, Ph.D. Senior Vice Provost for Graduate and Professional Education I certify that I have read this dissertation and that in my opinion it meets the academic and professional standard required by the University as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Signed: __________________________________________________________ Janet B. Johnson, Ph.D. Professor in charge of dissertation I certify that I have read this dissertation and that in my opinion it meets the academic and professional standard required by the University as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Signed: __________________________________________________________ Benjamin Bagozzi, Ph.D. Member of dissertation committee I certify that I have read this dissertation and that in my opinion it meets the academic and professional standard required by the University as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Signed: __________________________________________________________ Daniel Kinderman, Ph.D. Member of dissertation committee I certify that I have read this dissertation and that in my opinion it meets the academic and professional standard required by the University as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Signed: __________________________________________________________ Eunjung Lim, Ph.D. Member of dissertation committee ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In many respects, this dissertation is the culmination of several decades of the support, encouragement, and guidance of a plethora of individuals who (knowingly or unknowingly) invested their time and energy into me. It is impossible to give proper attribution to every single person, and in most cases a simple thank you is insufficient. However, the lessons I have learned in my education are culminated in this product, and I do wish to acknowledge those that have shaped my journey. I am extremely grateful for the tireless service and support of my committee members. The support my chair, Dr. Janet Johnson, has been unending—quite literally, as my project as extended into her retirement—and I have immense appreciation for her diligence to see this project through to completion. Without her unending support, passion for research, and dedication to helping her students, my years of graduate study would have been very different. Dr. Ben Bagozzi has also been instrumental to the success of this dissertation project, especially regarding the methods sections but also including many rounds of thorough comments on several drafts of this dissertation. I am also thankful for Dr. Daniel Kinderman’s thoughtful questions and advice on a “realistic” approach to graduate studies, surviving the dissertation, and post-completion job prospects. Finally, I am very grateful to Dr. Eunjung Lim for her willingness to serve as my external member, even from the far side of the world and extending across many time zones. I have been very privileged to have such an excellent committee for my dissertation. iv As the undertaking of a dissertation is not solely an intellectual project, but also an emotional one, there are many that have contributed to this endeavor. I have been very dearly supported by many other academic friends and colleagues, both at the University of Delaware and at other institutions who have given me an encouraging word, a much needed laugh, or a caring shoulder upon which to cry. Special acknowledgement goes to those who have especially fostered me through crucial moments of needed reassurance, including the Drs. Huntleigh, Paul Sulzer, Dr. Matthew Weinert, Lynn Corbett, and Dr. Sophie Le Blanc. More specific attribution goes to the following individuals: I have JDawg to thank for initially provoking my interest in nuclear energy and the aftermath of Fukushima through a joint humorously named project; My “best” roommate Zofia Maka has indefatigably shown me love and determination throughout my entire PhD experience, and I am so enormously grateful for all the times we together monitored the parking situation at Panera, searched for the best happy hour, survived the shower on Alexandria Drive, and danced our stress away at Zumba; I have been incredibly lucky to have a fierce friend and editor in Morgan Figa, who tirelessly (or if she did tire, she did not let me know) and painstakingly reviewed every single line of this dissertation. Those in my family have played a crucial role, both in my overall education and this direct product of it. My parents, who homeschooled me, enabled me to develop a love of learning at a young age. Their patience and prayers did not go unnoticed, even when they (and I at certain points) had no idea what this dissertation was about. My seven siblings have often provided a much needed refuge from the trials of the academy. I do not know what I have done to be placed on this earth with v such a dear sister, Dr. Amanda Sanchez, who knew what the doctoral process was and just how to encourage me through it. Finally, my partner in life and in love, Richard. Your intellectual and emotional investment in this product is second only to my own. I know with absolute certainty that I would not have accomplished this degree without your support, whether it was using your big brain to troubleshoot matters of quantitative modeling or using your big heart to hold me and my tears of frustration at 3am. Words cannot express how much you have enriched my life. Your unwavering support made even the hardest days brighter. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................ xi LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................... xiii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ xiv Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background on the Fukushima Accident ............................................... 3 1.2 Global Reaction to Fukushima. .............................................................. 6 1.3 Why Care About Nuclear Accidents? .................................................. 10 1.4 The Argument in Brief. ........................................................................ 20 1.5 Overview of Dissertation Project. ........................................................ 23 2 THEORETICAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND LITERATURE REVIEW ........ 26 2.1 The Study of Nuclear Energy ............................................................... 27 2.1.1 Comparative Study and Fukushima ................................................ 27 2.1.2 Overview of Nuclear Literature ...................................................... 29 2.2 Understanding Disasters and Constructing a Disaster Event ............... 32 2.2.1 Uniqueness of Nuclear Disasters ................................................... 32 2.2.2 Studying Disasters. ......................................................................... 33 2.2.3 Disasters as Social and Political Catalysts. ................................... 34 2.2.4 Natural vs. Technological Disaster Studies ................................... 36 2.3 Socially Constructed Factors ................................................................ 39 2.3.1 Policy Making. ................................................................................ 41 2.3.2 Perception of Risk. .......................................................................... 43 2.4 Public Policy: Understanding Change After Critical Events ............... 49 2.4.1 Public Policy Literature ................................................................. 49 2.4.2 Agenda Setting ................................................................................ 52 2.4.3 Change After Crisis ........................................................................ 54 vii 2.5 Explanations for Change in Nuclear Policy ......................................... 55 2.5.1 Factors ............................................................................................ 56 2.5.2 Rationalist Decision Making in Nuclear Policy. ............................ 65 2.6 Theoretical Contribution ...................................................................... 66 2.6.1 Focusing Events. ............................................................................. 67 2.6.2 Social Construction. ....................................................................... 69 2.6.3 Expectations. .................................................................................