British Nuclear Weapons and the Test Ban 1954-1973 - Britain, the United States, Weapons Policies and Nuclear Testing: Tensions and Contradictions (Paperback)

In 1962 Dean Acheson famously described Britain as having lost an Empire but not yet found a role. Perhaps nowhere is this more apparent than in the realms of nuclear weapons. An increasingly marginal world power, successive post-war British governments felt that an independent nuclear deterrent was essential if the country was to remain at the top table of world diplomacy. Focusing on a key twenty-year period, this study explores Britain's role in efforts to bring about a nuclear test ban treaty between 1954 and 1973. Taking a broadly chronological approach, it examines the nature of defence planning, the scientific goals that nuclear tests were designed to secure, Anglo-American relationships, the efficacy of British diplomacy and its contribution to arms control and disarmament. A key theme of the study is to show how the UK managed to balance the conflicting pressures created by its determination to remain a credible nuclear power whilst wanting to pursue disarmament objectives, and how these pressures shifted over the period in question. Based on a wealth of primary sources this book opens up the largely ignored subject of the impact of arms control on the UK nuclear weapons programme. Its appraisal of the relationship between the requirements and developments of the UK nuclear weapons programme against international and domestic pressures for a test ban treaty will be of interest to anyone studying post-war British defence and foreign policy, history of science, arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation and international relations. It also provides important background information on current events involving nuclear proliferation and disarmament.

General

Imprint:	Routledge
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	June 2019
First published:	2010
Authors:	John R. Walker
Dimensions:	234 x 156mm (L x W)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	406
ISBN-13:	978-1-138-38397-5
Categories:	Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > General Books > Science & Mathematics > Science: general issues > History of science Books > Professional & Technical > Environmental engineering & technology > General Books > Humanities > History > World history > 1750 to 1900 Books > Humanities > History > British & Irish history > General Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > Humanities > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Social & political philosophy Books > Professional & Technical > Transport technology > Aerospace & aviation technology > General Books > History > British & Irish history > General Books > History > History of specific subjects > Military history Books > History > World history > 1750 to 1900 Books > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Social & political philosophy Promotions
LSN:	1-138-38397-X
Barcode:	9781138383975

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!