Skip to main content

Local Opposition to the Construction of a Nuclear Power Station: Risk and Rationality

  • Chapter
Environmental Social Psychology

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASID,volume 45))

  • 296 Accesses

Abstract

The question of where or whether to build new nuclear power stations is frequently represented as a conflict between perceived national and local interests. In simple terms, it is commonly assumed that there is a national demand for a secure and economical electricity supply, but that most people would prefer such electricity to be generated elsewhere than in the vicinity of their own homes. Local opposition, though stronger or more organized in some countries than others (eg Marsh, 1981), has posed an increasingly troublesome and costly obstacle to the aspirations of the nuclear industry.

This research was supported by a grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (No. DOO 250009) to the first author.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water and Waste Managemnent: Siting of Hazardous Waste Management Facilities and Public Opposition Washington, DC: EPA 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindell, M.K. & Earle, T.C.: How close is close enough: Public perceptions of the risks of industrial facilities Risk Analysis. 3, 245–253 1983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, A.: Environmental issues in contemporary European politics. in Europe’s transition from oil London: Academic Press, pp 121–154 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nealey, S.M., Melber, B.D. & Rankin, W.L.: Public Opinion and Nuclear Energy Lexington, MA: Lexington Books 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nisbett, R.E. & Ross, L.: Human inference: Strategies and shortcomings of social judgement Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popper, F.J.: LP/HC and LULUs: The political uses of risk analysis in land-use planning Risk Analysis. 3, 255–263 1983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slovic, P., Fischhoff, B. & Lichtenstein, S.: Behavioural decision theory Annual Review of Psychology. 28, 1–39 1977.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van der Pligt, J., Eiser, J.R. & Spears, R.: Construction of a nuclear power station in one’s locality: Attitudes and salience. Basic and Applied Social Psychology. 7, 1–15 1986.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1988 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Eiser, J.R., Van Der Pligt, J., Spears, R. (1988). Local Opposition to the Construction of a Nuclear Power Station: Risk and Rationality. In: Canter, D., Jesuino, J.C., Soczka, L., Stephenson, G.M. (eds) Environmental Social Psychology. NATO ASI Series, vol 45. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2802-2_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2802-2_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7760-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2802-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics