Dissertation project: Radioactive Waste, Technology and Politics

Nuclear power is once again on the political agenda in the wake of climate change. However, the proliferation of nuclear power connects to a range of ‘old’ political issues that are now once again brought to the fore. One of these issues is how radioactive waste - which is dangerous for 100 000 years - is best taken care of. This dissertation project tries to understand the development of radioactive waste technologies in this ‘new’ political landscape. Thus, how to conceptualize the relationship between technology and politics is central in the thesis. Four articles touching upon different aspects of issues of nuclear waste management investigate political conflict, political consensus, and technological and scientific controversy. The thesis as a whole seeks to articulate what these somewhat divergent empirical examples have in common.