Solution processes of areal pollution problems: Case studies focusing on Fukushima nuclear accident

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H02872
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Environmental policy and social systems
• Research Institution: Meiji Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: FUJIKAWA Ken 明治学院大学, 社会学部, 教授 (80308072)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 尾崎 寛直 東京経済大学, 経済学部, 講師 (20385131) ; 堀畑 まなみ 桜美林大学, 総合科学系, 教授 (40348488) ; 土井 妙子 金沢大学, 学校教育系, 教授 (50447661) ; 片岡 直樹 東京経済大学, 現代法学部, 教授 (60161056) ; 除本 理史 大阪市立大学, 大学院経営学研究科, 教授 (60317906)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 環境問題 / 公害 / 放射能 / 福島原発事故 / 地域社会

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Since there are some structural causes for disastrous environmental pollution, it is not easy to solve the problems directly. In some cases, those causes might bring the aggrieved parties further damages in solution process.
By examining some cases of industrial pollution in Japan, and of radioactive contamination in the US and Japan, we have pointed out a few common tendencies in the backlash against environmentalism. The conservative parties have tended to limit the range of the problems; for example, underestimating the damages or the risk from the contaminants; overemphasizing uncertain points of causality to obscure the responsibility of polluters.
From the fieldwork in Fukushima, we found some signs of the lack of communications. We consider the divisions might be a cause of further damages in these communities. And the divide and conquer tactic around the nuclear policy in Japan might continue even after the Fukushima accident.

Free Research Field

環境社会学