An interdisciplinary scientific research project has systematically examined the ‘Citizen’s Dialogue on Nuclear Energy’ (1974-1983) for the first time. This can be seen as the first state response to the growing public opposition to nuclear facilities. The findings of the project are now available - they show that there is much to learn for today's search for a safe repository site.

The Federal Republic of Germany was in a state of upheaval during the 1970s. Many sectors were affected. The Republic was faced with several problems concerning energy supply: The energy crisis demanded solutions other than oil in order to secure growth and prosperity. At the same time, public demands for direct political participation and co-determination were becoming ever louder. The issue of nuclear power in particular sparked discussions all over Germany. More and more citizens expressed scepticism towards this high-risk technology; protests against nuclear power became more frequent. Administrative and political decision-makers found themselves under pressure: The construction of nuclear power plants was unanimously seen as the right answer to energy supply issues. However, planning and building nuclear power plants proved to be an even greater challenge, both at regional and national level. Some projects had to be cancelled due to fierce and persistent protests.

Aim of the ‘Citizen’s Dialogue": knowledge transfer and exchange

To counteract this, the German government launched the ‘Citizen’s Dialogue on Nuclear Energy’ in 1974. This dialogue aimed to inform the public about the advantages and disadvantages of using nuclear energy and the position of the German government. The production of corresponding publications and the implementation of direct discussion formats (seminars, workshops, information events) also involved a joint exchange of views. Critics of nuclear energy were also explicitly included in line with the ‘speech-counter speech’ principle. Alternatives to nuclear energy later became the subject of dialogue, too. Questions such as ‘How do we want to live in the future?’ were discussed.

The BASE research project examines several questions: How was the ‘Citizen’s Dialogue on Nuclear Energy’ actually implemented? What were the expectations of the various participants and how was this dialogue viewed by civil society, the media and the scientific community?
To answer these and other questions, the project team - a consortium of IZT - Institut für Zukunftsstudien und Technologiebewertung gemeinnützige GmbH, non-profit DIALOGIK GmbH and Gorleben Archiv e.V. - visited state and non-state archives. The scientists analysed the sparse secondary literature available, and conducted interviews with contemporary witnesses. These included the former Federal Research Minister Volker Hauff and Jo Leinen, former Chairman of the Federal Association of Citizens' Initiatives for Environmental Protection (BBU).

‘Citizen’s dialogue on Nuclear Energy": alibi campaign or innovative participatory offer?

The research results reveal as follows: The ‘Citizen’s Dialogue’ can certainly be seen as an innovative form of participation. However, the project did not achieve all the desired goals. Contrary to its initiators' expectations, for example, it did not lead to less resistance. Instead, critics of the expansion of nuclear energy viewed the ‘Citizen’s Dialogue’ in part as an ‘alibi campaign’ aimed towards getting nuclear facilities built. In some cases, they successfully used the resources provided to build up and disseminate expertise.
Nevertheless, the ‘Citizen’s Dialogue’ should not be understood as a failed attempt to gain acceptance. The initiators were primarily interested in engaging with citizens and testing a new tool for dialogue. As German Chancellor Willy Brandt declared in 1969, they wanted to ‘dare more democracy’. The relevance of the Citizen’s Dialogue for the federal government is also reflected in the fact that, in addition to (sponsored) events and publications, regular discussion groups were held between the ministers and representatives of civil society. The ‘Citizen’s Dialogue’ tool was constantly discussed and further developed in these groups.

The final report on the ‘Citizen’s Dialogue on Nuclear Energy’ research project (only in German) can be downloaded from the BASE research page.

Findings from the Citizen’s Dialogue can be used for today's site selection procedure

Despite numerous differences between ‘then’ and ‘now’, these findings can also be used for the current site selection procedure for the search for a repository site for high- level radioactive material. A large part of the criticism raised during the ‘Citizen’s Dialogue’ (e.g. lack of transparency, inequality of resources, lack of access to relevant information) is now regulated by the Site Selection Act.

Relevant documents for the current procedure are available on an information platform. The National Citizens' Oversight Committee (NBG) and the future Regional Conferences have the means to commission their own scientific reports. This enables them to feed their own expertise into the procedure, which is designed to be self-questioning and learning. The current procedural architecture benefits from these regulations. It therefore already represents a learning process - also thanks to the experience gained from the ‘Citizen’s Dialogue on Nuclear Energy’.