Pour une approche culturaliste du risque environnemental

Abstract

After half a century of activity, the 250 French uranium mines closed in the 1990s. Currently, they are placed in a context of opposition to the nuclear energy model which was developed in response to the oil crisis. Given that the wastes of this industry have been left on site, the former uranium mines are becoming more and more visible in the public debate and deal with spatial planning challenges. But from one territory to another, the relation between uranium and inhabitants varies between accepting and rejecting risks. By comparing three relatively similar sites located in different territories, this article aims at understanding the sociocultural determinants of risk perception. From the model of Douglas, based on the coherence of the actors and the socio-economic dynamics of the territories, we can provide some explanation for the vulnerability of populations to potential and diffuse threats specific to the radioactivity of uranium remains.

Keywords

• risk
• environment
• culture
• mines
• uranium