Contending approaches to nuclear power

Energy is an important figure in international relations, as being one of the most political choices of any country and as a crucial element of a nation’s progress. Among a variety of energy options, nuclear power has been subject to several arguments related its advantages and disadvantages. Especially after the Second World War, this debate on nuclear energy has reached to international levels where scholars and scientists were to discuss their arguments concerning the risks, effects and costs of nuclear energy. This thesis mainly aims to examine this debate between the supporters and critics of the nuclear energy option with an objective point of view. While examining this debate the study respectively focuses on the historical development of nuclear energy, the main arguments of both sides and possible middle grounds for the debate. The implementation of these arguments to Turkey is another subject which the thesis attempts to analyze. Being a descriptive study in nature, this thesis refrains from making any judgments but only objective observations.