Stiftelsen för forskning inom områden med anknytning till Östersjöregionen och Östeuropa

Residual Violence: Wasted Bodies and Environments of Romanian Uranium Mining amidst today’s ‘Nuclear Renaissance’


Ämne: Social Anthropology; Labor History; Environmental Humanities
Projektledare: Sergiu Novac
Startår: 2026
Projekttyp: Projekt
Beviljade medel: 4 311 000 kr

This project investigates the history and legacies of European uranium mining, focusing on the case of Romania. It examines the social and environmental impacts of uranium mining from the perspectives of workers and locals, addressing the broader context of renewed interest in nuclear energy as part of the green transition. The study introduces the concept of ‘residual violence,’ which combines ideas of governance through neglect and the gradual harm inflicted on bodies and environments by the uranium mining industry. Using ethnographic and archival methods alongside interviews with miners, locals, and activists, the project explores historical labor conditions, resistance, and the long-term effects of radioactive exposure. It also analyses contemporary struggles for labor rights and environmental restoration, while connecting labor history and environmental humanities to critique the resurgence of nuclear power. This research highlights the hidden costs of uranium mining and its implications for planetary futures based on nuclear power production.