Leiden University Student Repository

Kerckhaert, Evy (2024)

Online opinion expression among Dutch Facebook-users about nuclear energy in The Netherlands after Zaporizhzhia

Bachelor thesis | Security Studies (BSc)

Recently, the Dutch government announced that they plan to build two additional nuclear power plants next to the already existing EPZ plant in Borssele, in the southwest of The Netherlands. This announcement rekindled the nuclear debate in The Netherlands among Dutch citizens. The online public opinion in The Netherlands is widely spread. Those against nuclear energy, about 32% of the sample of 273 Dutch Facebook-users, often highlight the violent raid between Russia and Ukraine in the proximity of the Zaporizhzhia plant of last year, which almost escalated to a nuclear disaster. This occurrence provoked a fear of a disaster among the opponents of nuclear energy. Other frequently mentioned motives for people to be negative towards nuclear energy are the rising of the sea level and the nuclear waste in the future. However, this research shows that among the 273 Dutch Facebook-users, more than half of the sample expresses a positive tone towards nuclear energy. Frequently recurring...Show moreRecently, the Dutch government announced that they plan to build two additional nuclear power plants next to the already existing EPZ plant in Borssele, in the southwest of The Netherlands. This announcement rekindled the nuclear debate in The Netherlands among Dutch citizens. The online public opinion in The Netherlands is widely spread. Those against nuclear energy, about 32% of the sample of 273 Dutch Facebook-users, often highlight the violent raid between Russia and Ukraine in the proximity of the Zaporizhzhia plant of last year, which almost escalated to a nuclear disaster. This occurrence provoked a fear of a disaster among the opponents of nuclear energy. Other frequently mentioned motives for people to be negative towards nuclear energy are the rising of the sea level and the nuclear waste in the future. However, this research shows that among the 273 Dutch Facebook-users, more than half of the sample expresses a positive tone towards nuclear energy. Frequently recurring motives for a positively toned messages are the financial benefits of nuclear energy, the fact that nuclear energy is perceived as “clean energy” and the disregard towards alternative energy sources such as wind- and solar energy.Show less

Author

Kerckhaert, Evy

Faculty

Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs

Supervisors

Bartolucci, A.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en