ABSTRACT
The discussion as to whether activism can change a society has often been controversial. The post-Fukushima anti-nuclear movement has received a mixed evaluation: while it changed the negative image of social movements and encouraged activism, it has not succeeded in having an impact on formal politics. Post-Fukushima activism is a non-ideological movement and the protesters have a different vision on how the initial emotional burst should develop. Some of its actions are majoritarian and aim to bring about change through existing political institutions. Other actions are more minoritarian, engaging in micropolitics to change their own lifestyle. Instead of evaluating each strategy, this chapter emphasises that the novelty of post-Fukushima activism lies in the co-existence of different political practices, as these practices create resonance within the movement and generate new political repertoires and values in life. Meanwhile, the chapter also highlights the difficulty of transmitting the significance of activism that is generated within the movement to the outside, to those who still remain indifferent to politics.
