Democracy, rationality and advanced technologies: the case against nuclear power in South Africa

ABSTRACT

It is argued that certain inherent characteristics of nuclear power undermine the public accountability of decision makers. In such circumstances there is a strong case for requiring that public policy decisions meet clearly defined criteria for rationality. A large part of this article examines the conventional criteria, concludes that they are inappropriate to nuclear technology and that special rules need to be applied. It is demonstrated that by these standards, nuclear power is both irrational and poses a distinctive threat to liberal democratic principles in South Africa.

Nuclear power has been mooted as the answer to South (and indeed Southern) Africa's long‐term electricity requirements. Nuclear power, it is argued, will become necessary as South Africa's coal reserves are depleted and fossil‐fuel power becomes prohibitively expensive. [Huntley et al, 1989:67; McRae, 1989:58; Auf der Heyde et al, 1987:488] A nuclear programme seems easy to set in motion: South Africa is already a major producer of uranium; and much of the nuclear fuel chain already exists. However nuclear power is controversial. Worldwide, there is increasing awareness of both its adverse environmental implications and its costliness. There are also other issues which demand careful consideration. Public policy decisions (such as the decision to launch a nuclear power programme) must take account of clearly identified standards of accountability and rationality. Advanced technologies like nuclear power pose distinctive problems here. These will be discussed below with specific reference to the nuclear option in South Africa.