CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2010
| Author | Pilibaityte, Vaida |
|---|---|
| Title | Nuclear Energy Discourses in Lithuania and Belarus |
| Summary | After years of stagnation, nuclear energy is believed to experience a revival. Despite a global momentum, little cross-cultural analysis exists about the national drivers for nuclear power such as geopolitics. Discourse studies are emerging as a way to examine approaches on energy security options in different countries. This work documents nuclear energy discourses in two neighbouring pro-nuclear Eastern European countries in contrast with the global discourse. Both former Soviet states are dependent on energy supplies from Russia, but Lithuania is the European Union member, while Belarus is led by an autocratic regime. Discourse analysis conducted in this study relied on Hajer’s analytical concepts – discursive storylines and coalitions. National discourses were studied from 157 media texts published in 2006-2009. Pro-nuclear and anti-nuclear discourse coalitions have been described in Lithuania and Belarus. The results of this analysis were interpreted comparing them with similar storylines and coalitions found in the global discourse. The results show that energy security is central for both global and national discourse. Climate change is emphasized internationally, while geopolitics is more important nationally. Pro-nuclear energy discourse coalitions in both countries utter global storylines promoting nuclear as cheap and reliable, and downplaying uncertainties present in the global discourse. The storylines of national anti-nuclear energy coalitions mirror those of global anti-nuclear discourse and are vocal about risks and lack of public involvement. The study concludes that in political discourses like in Lithuania there are more opportunities to challenge dominant narratives than in the technocratic debate taking place in Belarus. However, political and corporate interests coupled with unspecialized reporting have a universally constraining effect on a national discussion on nuclear energy. As a result, significant misinterpretations of global trends and knowledge gaps seem to occur in both types of the national debate on nuclear energy. |
| Supervisor | Cherp, Aleh |
| Department | Environment Sciences and Policy MSc |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2010/pilibaityte_vaida.pdf |
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