Institutional Legitimacy and Sustainable Nuclear Energy Governance: A Comparative Sociotechnical Analysis

As nuclear energy re-emerges as a key component of global decarbonization, its long-term sustainability increasingly depends on institutional legitimacy alongside technical performance. Drawing on institutional theory, sociotechnical systems theory, and energy justice scholarship, this study conceptualizes regulatory compliance as a governance-mediated outcome shaped by trust, equity, transparency, and inclusion (TETI). Building on the Q-NPT (Qudrat-Ullah Nuclear Peace and Trust) framework, a sequential explanatory mixed-method design develops a composite TETI Governance Index using structured coding of regulatory documents, international peer-review findings, and participatory governance practices across ten advanced and emerging nuclear programs. The index enables comparative assessment of governance quality through standardized indicators and aggregation of the four governance dimensions. Comparative analysis across the ten programs reveals systematic governance differences between advanced and emerging nuclear systems, with more institutionally mature programs generally exhibiting higher TETI scores and stronger regulatory compliance. Results suggest that governance systems characterized by greater transparency, equity, stakeholder inclusion, and institutional trust are associated with stronger regulatory compliance and institutional resilience. Regression analysis indicates a positive relationship between the TETI Governance Index and compliance performance, although the small comparative sample and proxy measures preclude causal inference. By reframing regulatory compliance as a governance-mediated sociotechnical outcome, this study advances a theoretically grounded framework for strengthening safe, equitable, and sustainable civilian nuclear energy governance.