Journal of Engineering Education Research (공학교육연구)

Korean Society for Engineering Education (한국공학교육학회)
권호 표지

The Political Economy of Nuclear Reactors and Safety

원자로의 정치경제학과 안전

  • Park, Jin-Hee (Center of General Education, Dongguk University-Seoul)
  • 박진희 (동국대학교 교양교육원)
  • Received : 2011.12.06
  • Accepted : 2011.01.31
  • Published : 2012.01.31
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Abstract

The success history of Light Water Reactors (PWR and BWR) showed how a dominant technology could be shaped in a political and economical context. The american nuclear politics, the interest of american nuclear industry, and the accumulated technological know-hows made it possible that the not inherently safe reactor-Light Water Reactor- became a prominent reactor model. The path dependency of reactor technology on LWR kept the engineers from developing a new safer reactor, even if the severe reactor accidents occurred. In oder to increase safety of nuclear power system, we should understand the social shaping process of nuclear technology.

Keywords

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