New Books Network Florentine Koppenborg, "Japan's Nuclear Disaster and the Politics of Safety Governance" (Cornell UP, 2023)
Jan 5, 2026
Florentine Koppenborg, a political scientist and author, explores the aftermath of Japan's Fukushima disaster and its impact on nuclear safety governance. She delves into Japan's regulatory reforms, highlighting the establishment of a robust independent Nuclear Regulation Authority. The conversation touches on the historical pro-nuclear safety narrative, local resistance to new plants, and the intricate balance between nuclear safety and energy policy. Koppenborg also discusses the international implications of Japan's regulatory changes for global energy decarbonization efforts.
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Chernobyl Shaped A Research Path
- Florentine Koppenborg recounts being an infant during Chernobyl and her mother's panic over radiation and baby food.
- That childhood unease shaped her lifelong interest in nuclear risk communication and safety governance.
The Safety Myth And Strategic Promotion
- Koppenborg describes how postwar Japan used strategic information management to promote nuclear power and downplay risk.
- This created a “safety myth” that limited public participation and shaped pro-nuclear public opinion.
Expanding Sites To Sidestep Protests
- Local protests were neutralized by expanding existing plant sites rather than starting new ones.
- This tactic turned site fights into unit additions, avoiding fresh local opposition and entrenching nuclear growth.
