Clusterization of public perception of nuclear energy in relation to changing political priorities

ENThe paper is directed to an important yet controversial phenomena of public perception of nuclear energy in Lithuania. It discusses the conceptualization of nuclear energy public perception in relation to psychometric paradigm and its specified key elements of public security feelings. The empirical research is based on representative public poll carried out in 2017. Based on the discoveries of previous research when identifying the interdependence of public perception and support towards concrete political parties, four clusters were formed to test conceptual notions (importance of personal trust in energy industry and personal knowledge) and then relate it with the political preferences of each cluster. The results indicate the distribution of both nuclear energy as well as concrete energy projects public perception in relation to political preferences and peculiarities of security feeling among each cluster. Keywords: nuclear energy; public perception; political priorities; change; cluster analysis; Lithuania. [From the publication]

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