Abstract
Southeast Asia is experiencing a nuclear energy renaissance. Why have some Southeast Asian countries chosen to
pursue nuclear power, while others have not? Among those pursuing nuclear energy, why are some moving more
quickly than others? The hypothesis of this thesis is that countries are more likely pursue nuclear power if its benefits
outweigh benefits from the same level of effort in other sources of energy. Analyses of these countries with respect to
nuclear energy using electricity demand, alternative energy sources, political will, means of production, technical
capacity and international support resulted in three categories: countries that abstain from it (Brunei, Cambodia, East
Timor, Laos and Singapore), countries that may pursue it (Burma, Malaysia and the Philippines) and countries that
are pursuing it (Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam). Countries that abstained do so either because greater benefit can
be achieved with the same level of national effort in other areas or because nuclear energy was politically ill suited to
their specific needs. Countries on the fence face political obstacles that have yet to be overcome. Countries pursuing
it do so based on a need to expand electricity capacity to sustain economic development, with the rate of pursuit
dominated by their political circumstance.
PDF