Löschke A (2021)
Publication Language: English
Publication Type: Journal article, Original article
Publication year: 2021
Book Volume: 33
Pages Range: 189-212
Journal Issue: 2
URI: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09555803.2018.1552309
DOI: 10.1080/09555803.2018.1552309
After the Fukushima nuclear disaster, more than 50,000 people moved from irradiated areas without being ordered to do so by the government. They are called ‘voluntary evacuees’. Because they received very little compensation, a government policy to provide rent-free public housing units has been a lifeline for about 25,000 voluntary evacuees. However, the housing support expired on 31 March 2017. Based on sixty semi-structured, problem-centred interviews, this article provides an analysis of the victims’ movement against the termination of the housing support. After explaining the development of the movement over the past six years, from mobilization of third-party supporters on behalf of victims to victims’ strong commitment, this article analyses why this movement had only limited success. It is argued that (1) the absence of litigation and early access to officials hampered mobilization of other victims and third-party supporters; (2) bureaucratic conciliatory measures and the victims’ faith in the government’s benevolence limited political opportunities for the victims; and that (3) the framing process of the victims’ movement encountered severe difficulties in developing shared collective identities of the victims and facilitating rights assertions by the victims.
APA:
Löschke, A. (2021). A victims’ movement against the termination of housing support for voluntary evacuees. Japan Forum, 33(2), 189-212. https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09555803.2018.1552309
MLA:
Löschke, Ayaka. "A victims’ movement against the termination of housing support for voluntary evacuees." Japan Forum 33.2 (2021): 189-212.
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