Marching Activists: Transnational Lessons for Danish Anti-Nuclear Protest

Abstract

On 26 and 27 August 1978, the Danish anti-nuclear movement witnessed its greatest—both in terms of the number of participants and political impact—protest marches against the establishment of nuclear power plants in Denmark. The internationally connected Danish movement drew on lessons from experiences made in other countries; it integrated and adapted them to their social norms and political situation. Hence, the Danish anti-nuclear movement was characterized by non-violent protests, information campaigns, and the development of alternative energy plans based on scientific evidence, as well as respectful political discussion, which was eventually able to prevent the establishment of nuclear power plants in Denmark.