Dreams of Green Fields – The "grüne Wiese" in German Nuclear Decommissioning Discourse

Abstract. The term "grüne Wiese" (literally "green meadow" or "field") has become a prevalent expression in German nuclear decommissioning discourse, appearing across government reports, media articles, and activist actions. This article explores the rhetorical, symbolic, cultural and political dimensions of the "grüne Wiese" within German nuclear decommissioning discourse through the lens of cultural analysis, drawing on a visit to an actual "grüne Wiese" site, archival research, and analysis of media and anti-nuclear activist engagements with the term. Treating the phrase as a "floating signifier," it traces how the term emerged in anti-nuclear protest before being strategically deployed by industry and politicians to assuage public concern about nuclear power. As Germany enters an intensive phase of decommissioning and the search for a final repository, the term promises closure precisely at a moment when societal debate and engagement are needed most urgently.