THE NUCLEAR OPTION: POLITICS OF THE PAST, WEST GERMAN ENERGY POLICY, AND THE QUEST FOR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, 1973-1982

Abstract

This dissertation explores the role of energy vulnerability in shaping the political landscape of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from the 1973 OPEC oil crisis to the collapse of the Social-Liberal Coalition under Chancellor Helmut Schmidt in 1982. It focuses on the intense national debate over energy policy in the aftermath of the oil crisis, particularly the controversial decision by Schmidt and key ministers, such as Hans Matthöfer, to pursue nuclear energy as a solution to Germany’s dependence on foreign energy. While proponents saw nuclear power as a strategic and modern response to energy insecurity, critics feared its dangers and questioned the democratic implications of such a technocratic policy. The conflict between these two camps became a defining issue in West German politics, sparking protests, public debate, and a broader reckoning with the country’s energy future.The dissertation argues that Schmidt’s commitment to nuclear energy was rooted in a long-standing national concern with energy autonomy, intensified by the 1973 oil shock. Schmidt’s administration believed nuclear energy could secure the FRG’s energy future, stimulate industrial innovation, and provide economic benefits amid fears of recession. Despite fierce opposition from activists and members of his own party, Schmidt pressed forward, ultimately winning short-term policy victories but failing to generate lasting public support. This failure allowed nuclear skepticism to gain ground within the political left, shaping the future platforms of the SPD and the emerging Green Party. By reexamining Schmidt’s pro-nuclear arguments and the resistance they faced, this dissertation sheds new light on the limits of technocratic governance in democratic societies and the enduring challenge of balancing energy policy with public trust. Lastly, my dissertation highlights the important role of the Nazi past in German history and how the politics of remembering this past and democratic institutional concerns echoed throughout the nuclear energy debate.