A Comparative Study of Social Movements for a Post-nuclear Energy Era in Japan and the USA

In contrast with skepticism about nuclear energy in the USA and most advanced Western countries from late 1970s to early 2000s, Japan, South Korea, and China have shared a pro-nuclear energy policy during these years. These differences partly reflected the strength, influence, and the success of the anti-nuclear movement in the USA and Western countries like Germany, compared to its weaker Japanese counterpart. Using data from case studies of anti-nuclear movements in Japan and the USA, this study explains the different outcomes using the author’s “triangular model of social movement analysis (TRIM).” As a theoretical framework, the TRIM compares the two countries on three major factors: (1) political opportunity structure (openness of political system to popular input); (2) resources, actors, and major support base; and (3) framing based on culture and attitudes (for example, public confidence in technology).