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understanding of the dynamics of sociopolitical movements may help us avoid such destructive paths.
Organization of the Chapters
In chapter 1, I present a historical narrative with the aim being to familiarize the reader with the distinct and parallel journeys of the two technologies. I begin with images from the 1940s, when scientists were considering the possibility of utilizing the energy of atomic fission to create an unconventionally powerful bomb. This war effort not only proved the concept of releasing an enormous amount of energy by splitting atoms but also made a tremendous impact on the entire culture.
The nuclear power story focuses on the origin of the technology and how it was developed into an industry. Unlike many other accounts of the nuclear story, this story elaborates neither on the safety debates nor on the antinuclear movement. Because the nuclear-generator business stopped before the majority of public opinion turned antinuclear, I do not believe the dormancy should be largely attributed to antinuclear movement. However, because the pronuclear and antinuclear debate illustrates the conflict in the underlying belief systems and, indeed, possesses important policy lessons, I discuss it separately in chapter 5.
Throughout the postwar period (except for the short period from the late 1970s to the early 1980s), synthetic fuels almost always had a much lower profile in the national agenda. Therefore, the synfuel story serves as a good reference case. Unlike nuclear power, the need for synfuel was well-justified and, in addition, the technology was evaluated and found to be promising. The contrast between the strong nuclear support and the weak and sporadic political endorsement for synfuel brings out the peculiarity of nuclear power policy.
Chapter 2 discusses the relationship between the state and civil society. The Cold War was the dominant theme in the U.S. national policy agenda in early postwar era. The tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as the threat of a nuclear Armageddon shadowed civil society. The social miracle of civilian nuclear power was a product