This essay consists of two parts. The first gives a brief summary of the development of nuclear power in Germany, arguing that the decision of 2011 was the final step in a long farewell. This part also offers some perspectives on other countries, as Germany’s trajectory is in many respects typical of developments elsewhere in the West. The second part builds on this discussion, assessing the methodological arsenal of the historical profession in order to shed light on future developments. What can we learn when we conceive nuclear energy as a piece of technology rather than an ethical challenge?
DOI: doi.org/10.5282/rcc/5664