Nuclear energy policy in a multipolar world: strategic choices and global alignments

Do nations prioritise nuclear energy technology to enhance energy diplomacy or to secure energy independence? In connection with this question, what strategies are being formulated for broader national energy policy adaptations in the shift away from the US-centred unipolar international order? This research develops a typology to analyse the connection between these two domains through various empirical examples. The classification system, based on the emerging multipolar world order (US-led alignment versus challenging alignment) and national nuclear energy approaches (export-oriented versus self-sufficiency) helps explain how countries reconcile their energy security needs with broader strategic goals. This framework raises a puzzle concerning how international alignment interacts with domestic nuclear energy policy decisions. The analysis is crucial because the emerging nuclear sector operates through complex supply chains that create (in)direct technological interdependence, rather than the basic buyer-seller dynamics found in traditional energy markets. The typology provides clarity about major international actors like South Korea, the US, China and Russia regarding their strategic choices. The proposed typology is evaluated through a case study of South Korea’s engagement with small modular reactors (SMRs).