Rethinking the meaning of “landscape shocks” in energy transitions: German social representations of the Fukushima nuclear accident

Abstract

Highlights Shared meanings play a role at all levels of Geels’ multi-level perspective of sociotechnical transitions (MLP). Social representations theory is applied as a theory of meaning, to understand ‘landscape shock’ in the MLP psychologically. German newspaper representations of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident are analysed as an illustrative case. Social representations interact with and reflect pre-existing cultural factors. Research directions for the social psychology of sociotechnical landscape shock are set out.

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