The (non-) economics of the nuclear fuel cycle: an historical and discourse analysis

The development of commercial nuclear power seems irrational. While the nat ure of the nuclear fuel cycle has been well known since the early days of n uclear power, the problem of disposing of nuclear waste has only recently b ecome a central area of concern and research. Also, commercial nuclear powe r has probably never been truly economically competitive, as it has receive d large subsidies. It is argued that the rise of nuclear power can be under stood through the use of discourse analysis, where the discourse of the mod ernising and interventionist state is well matched to the discourse of nucl ear power, as offering control and modernity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.