What Are Nuclear Weapons For?, livre ebook

• Very topical given the increased nuclear threat following the Russian-Ukraine war

• Considers the history, politics and ethics of nuclear weapons and the tough questions they raise

• Author is expert on nuclear weapons who has worked with the UK Ministry of Defence, NATO specialists and US government experts

Peacekeepers, effective deterrent or potential cause of ultimate disaster? Understanding what nuclear weapons are for has never been more essential.

This book traces the history of nuclear weapons from their first use in 1945 when they brought the Second World War to an end, through the Cold War when they gave rise to peace movements and disarmament efforts to the ominous nuclear landscape today.

Shamai shows how nuclear weapons have, to date, been a deterrent by raising the stakes of war and thereby reducing the chances of certain kinds of conflict. But, she warns, this is not a permanent situation – its continuation depends on the world’s reaction to this threat and ongoing vigilance.

Preface

1. Introduction

2. Origins

3. The Cold War

4. Taboos and Stigmas

5. Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Popular Protest

6. After the Cold War

7. 9/11 and the Nuclear Threat

8. Conclusion

Notes

Further Reading