Two Paradigmatic Waves of Public Discourse on Nuclear Waste in the United States, 1945-2009: Understanding a Magnitudinal and Longitudinal Phenomenon in Anthropological Terms

摘要: This project set out to illuminate the discursive existence of nuclear waste in American culture. Given significant temporal dimension phenomenon as well challenging size United States setting, adapted key methodological elements sociocultural anthropology tradition and produced proxies for ethnographic fieldnotes informant interviews through sampling digital archives New York Times over a 64-year period that starts with first recorded occurrence notion ends conclusion presidency George W. Bush. Two paradigmatic waves public discourse on come light when subjecting this empirical data quantitative inventorying interpretive analysis: between 1945 1969 was generally framed beneficial utilizations reactions optimistic expectations scientific/technological solution; by contrast, 2009 conceptualized inherited harm could not be undone contestation required political/legal management. Besides finding timing two paradigms, study’s value lies also its detailed documentation existence.