The Space of Dialogue and Social Learning: Experiences of the 1F Community School in Fukushima

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  • Yu Zhu
    早稲田大学アジア太平洋研究科・博士課程
  • Matsuoka Shunji
    早稲田大学アジア太平洋研究科・教授

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Other Title
  • 対話の場と社会的学習：福島における1F地域塾の経験から
  • タイワ ノ バ ト シャカイテキ ガクシュウ : フクシマ ニ オケル 1F チイキジュク ノ ケイケン カラ

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Abstract

<p>In the decommissioning of nuclear power plants, it is considered that dialogue between local citizens, the government, plant operators, and nuclear experts will lead to the resolution of social problems caused by decommissioning. However, in Japan, which recently began the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (1F) in 2011, the deepened social divide between the local community, the government, TEPCO (Tokyo Electric Power Company), and nuclear experts is making dialogue difficult. With a mind to this issue, this article aims to clarify how citizens, government, operators, and experts whose relationships have been damaged can overcome social divides and have a dialogue.</p><p>This research focuses on “the space of dialogue” based on deliberative democracy and takes a dialogue project called “1F Community School (1F Chiiki-Juku)” as a case to discuss how to realize a dialogue within a divided society. As a result, it showed that mutual respect, which is a prerequisite for dialogue, was formed through the 1F Community School between the local community, the government, TEPCO, and nuclear experts who had difficulty in dialogue previously.</p><p>Regarding the mechanism of mutual respect formation, this paper highlights the function of deliberation called “social learning”. Compared to conventional theories of deliberative democracy, the social learning advocated in this study emphasizes not only mutual understanding but also trust building. Based on the experience of the 1F Community School, it was found that mutual respect can be formed through social learning that promotes mutual understanding and trust building at the same time.</p><p>Currently, the discussion about the decommissioning of 1F still has not been widespread in the local community. Considering that the decommissioning of 1F will continue for decades or hundreds, it is important to involve the wider local community in dialogue. The case of the 1F Community School demonstrates the possibility that the citizens, the government, the operator, and nuclear experts could overcome divergences and foster mutual respect through social learning. From this viewpoint, we believe that we have found a way to create a foundation for future effective dialogue and making a learning community regarding the decommissioning of 1F.</p>

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