Nuclear weapons Books

Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestselling edge-of-your-seat exploration of what would happen in the event of nuclear war, perfect for readers of American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.''Essential'' New York Times''A stomach-clenching, multi-perspective, ticking-clock, geopolitical thriller'' Forbes''Tells a terrifying story in a devastatingly straightforward way'' GuardianNuclear war begins with a blip on a radar screen.This is a minute-by-minute account of what comes next.It has to be read to be believed.There is only one scenario other than an asteroid strike that could end the world as we know it in a matter of hours: nuclear war.Until now, no one outside official circles has known exactly what would happen if a rogue state launched a nuclear missile at the Pentagon. Second by second and minute by minute, these are the real-life protocols that choreograph the end of civilization as we know it.Decisions that affect hundreds of millions of lives need to be made within six minutes, based on partial information, in the knowledge that once launched, nothing is capable of halting the destruction.Based on dozens of new interviews with military and civilian experts who have built the weapons, been privy to the response plans, and taken responsibility for crucial decisions, this is the only account of what a nuclear exchange would look like.Nuclear War is at once a compulsive non-fiction thriller and a powerful argument that we must rid ourselves of these world-ending weapons for ever.''This terrifying book is a must-read for every world leader'' Mother Jones''These are scenes straight out of Dr Strangelove'' Telegraph''At once methodical and vivid'' The Economist

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Book SynopsisThe Iranian nuclear crisis has dominated current affairs and geopolitics for over a decade. Yet there is little real understanding of Iran's nuclear programme, in particular its history, which is now over fifty years old. This ground-breaking book argues that the history of Iran's nuclear programme and the modern history of the country itself are irrevocably linked, and only by understanding one can we understand the other. From the programme's beginnings under the Shah of Iran, the book details the central role of the US in the birth of nuclear Iran, and the role that nuclear weapons have played in the programme since the beginning. The author's unique access to 'the father' of Iran's nuclear programme, as well as to key scientific personnel under the early Islamic Republic and to senior Iranian and Western officials at the centre of today's negotiations, sheds new light on the uranium enrichment programme that lies at the heart of global concerns. What emerges is a programme that has, for a variety of reasons, a deep resonance to Iran. This is why it has persisted with it for over half a century in the face of such widespread opposition. Drawing on years of research across the world, David Patrikarakos has produced the most comprehensive examination of Iran's nuclear programme - in all its forms to date. This new edition features interviews with the main actors who saw through President Obama's Iran nuclear deal, and give the inside story in how progress stalled under the Trump administration.Trade ReviewOne of the best and most readable accounts of a programme which has come to define Iran's relations with the West. An essential read for the general reader and specialist alike. -- --Ali Ansari, Professor of History at University of St Andrews and Director of the Institute for Iranian StudiesAn interesting and informative window into Iranian thinking ... a unique and fascinating book. -- --Mark Fitzpatrick, Director, Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme, International Institute for Strategic Studies... a welcome analysis of Iran's self-perception, its nuclear plans and Western responses. * The Independent *David Patrikarakos has produced an excellent account of the country's progress towards nuclear status, in which he acknowledges that neither diplomacy nor sanctions are likely to work. -- Max Hastings * The Sunday Times *What has been sorely missing from the debate about Iran's nuclear program is a serious, reported effort to understand what goes on in the minds of the Iranians. David Patrikarakos fills that void. -- Bill Keller * The New York Times *War in 140 Characters should be mandatory reading at Sandhurst -- Ben Judah * The Times *Nuclear Iran was named as a New York Times Editor's Choice in 2013 * The New York Times *Table of ContentsIntroduction 2. In the beginning was the Atom bomb: Nuclear Power and the Post-War World in the Middle East 3. The Peacock Wants to Strut: Aspiring to Nuclear Power under the Shah of Iran 4. Arms and the Shah: Developing Nuclear Weapons under the Shah 5. Slow Decline - Quick Fall: The End of the Shah’s Nuclear Programme 6. Children of the Revolution: [‘An Ideologically Unclean Atom Bomb’] 1979-1980 7. Restart? 1980-1984 [Reviving the Nuclear option] 8. We Are Victims: [Iran’s Search for New Nuclear Partners] 1984-1989 9. Iran’s version of an Islamic Bomb? Nuclear Weapons Under the Early Republic 10. Restart for Real: Iran’s Nuclear Programme Goes Live 1990-1997 11. Crisis: Nuclear Negotiations 2002-2005 12. Enter Ahmadinejad: Reversing into the Future 2005-2008 13. Enter Obama: Trying for Nuclear Détente? 14. Qom, the Natanz Site and Everything After 15. Conclusion Appendices etc.

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Book SynopsisDid you know that the uranium used to bomb the citizens of Hiroshima was mined at a forbidden site known as the money place' by First Nation people in northern Canada? Or that the grades you receive in college A, B, C, D reflected housing standards in the Atomic City of Oak Ridge, with A for having an intellect of a professor and D for that of people of colour? And how about the bikini swimwear? Did you know that the gaze on a woman's belly button was that of military men carrying out atomic bombardments of the Bikini Atoll while fetishising sex bombs' and (an)atomic bombshells'? And how about the poor Pacific Islanders who got their atolls blown to pieces? Have you heard about the colonial history of violence and oppression of those whose only aspiration was to live in peace with their coconut islands? And everyone is talking about climate change these days. Did you know that the debate emerged as a reaction to the fear of ordinary citizens wondering if atomic bombs would blow up the entire sky?If some of this was news to you, it might have to do with how the story of atomic bombs has been told. The truism that history is written by its winners is very much the case in the literature about how the bomb came about, with numerous apologetic books most often written by U.S. scholars. These are usually cast as stories of the tormented souls of scientists who made a Faustian bargain' with the military in pursuit of atomic knowledge. The physicist Robert Oppenheimer, the nuke's father', is repeatedly centre stage, as in the case of the recent film about him. These are elitist stories that more often than not ignore the suffering and violence of the bomb to laypeople in general, and to marginalised groups in particular. This book offers alternative perspectives.

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Book Synopsis*A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK*The first book to tell the story of day-to-day life on the nuclear home front - from the host of #1 podcast Atomic Hobo'So entertaining' The Times 'Cracking' Sunday TelegraphThe atomic bombs of 1945 changed war forever. The awesome power of the blast and its deadly fallout meant home in Britain fell under the nuclear shadow, and the threat of annihilation coloured every aspect of ordinary life for the next forty years.Families were encouraged to construct makeshift shelters with cardboard and sandbags. Vicars and pub landlords learnt how to sound hand-wound sirens, offering four minutes to scramble to safety. Thousands volunteered to give nuclear first aid, often consisting of breakfast tea, herbal remedies, and advice on how to die without contaminating others. And while the public had to look after themselves, bunkers were readied for the officials and experts who would ensure life continued after the catastrophe.Today we may read about the Cold War and life in Britain under the shadow of the mushroom cloud with a sense of amusement and relief that the apocalypse did not happen. But it is also a timely and powerful reminder that, so long as nuclear weapons exist, the nuclear threat will always be with us.'Impossible to believe, just as hard to put down' Dan Snow'Simultaneously horrifying, weirdly nostalgic and darkly hilarIous' Mark Haddon, author of The PorpoiseTrade ReviewCracking * Sunday Telegraph *So entertaining * The Times *Very good ... A sobering book, but a gripping one * Spectator *Julie McDowall's thoroughly gripping study ... makes for genuinely startling and sometimes darkly funny reading... [it's] brilliantly chilling and sparkily engaging * Mail on Sunday *Attack Warning Red! is a timely reminder of the mind-blanking horror of nuclear warfare, as it menaces Europe once more * Sunday Times *Simultaneously horrifying, weirdly nostalgic and darkly hilarious * Mark Haddon, author of The Porpoise *Impossible to believe, just as hard to put down. Urgent. Terrifying * Dan Snow, historian and host of History Hit *Superb ... a lucid, totally compulsive read from beginning to end, chilling as well as profoundly empathetic in tone * Mick Jackson, director of Threads *Brilliant and unforgettable ... A beautifully writtern horror story and amazing work of research ... Julie McDowall has made the unreadable compulsive and the unthinkable thinkable, but above all this is a book that cherishes humanity in all its absurdity, intelligence, vulnerability, courage and, against all odds, belief in hope and survival * Juliet Nicolson, author of Frostquake *Captivating, chilling, and at times darkly humorous. A fascinating insight into Britain's preparations for surviving Armageddon, and the ghastly reality of what the aftermath of a nuclear war would actually be like * Lewis Dartnell, author of The Knowledge *Fascinating * Sir Lawrence Freedman, author of Command *How to prepare for Armageddon? Julie McDowell has written the best exploration yet of how successive British administrations grappled with the challenge of living under the shadow of nuclear war, with depth, compassion and very necessary dark humour * Prof. Mark Galeotti, author of The Weaponisation of Everything *This by turns harrowing and farcical book charts the reality of living under constant threat of nuclear oblivion * iPaper *Timely ... harrowing ... farcical ... the most surprising aspect of Attack Warning Red!, however, is that, alongside generous helpings of fear and unease, it carries a strong charge of nostalgia * Scotland on Sunday *Attack Warning Red! effectively pulls together many strands from this unsettling aspect of British history and weaves them in a way that will alarm and entertain * BBC History Magazine *A fascinating read * Radio Times *An atomic Dad's Army, McDowall's history of the UK's nuclear civil defence is full of hilarious gems * Daily Telegraph *McDowall's book has the tone of a podcast [...] She leads her audience round bunkers, propaganda films and government records, pointing out the horrifying, the unexpected and the absurd * London Review of Books *Most interesting * Times Literary Supplement *An unsettling festive read * Soldier *

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Book SynopsisThe nuclear age is coming to the Middle East. Understanding the scope and motivations for this development and its implications for global security is essential. The last decade has witnessed an explosion of popular and scholarly attention focussed on nuclear issues around the globe and especially in the Middle East. These studies fall into one of four general categories. They tend to focus either on the security and military aspects of nuclear weapons, or on the sources and mechanisms for proliferation and means of reversing it, or nuclear energy, or the logics driving state policymakers toward adopting the nuclear option. The Nuclear Question in the Middle East is the first book of its kind to combine thematic and theoretical discussions regarding nuclear weapons and nuclear energy with case studies from across the region. What are the key domestic drivers of nuclear behaviour and decision-making in the Middle East? How are the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council seeking to employ nuclear energy to further guarantee and expedite their hyper-growth of recent decades? Are there ideal models emerging in this regard that others might emulate in the foreseeable future, and, if so, what consequences is this development likely to have for other civilian nuclear aspirants? These region-wide themes form the backdrop against which specific case studies are examined.Trade Review'A top flight collection of essays on one of the most controversial and sensitive topics in both Middle East politics and studies of nuclear proliferation in general. - provides a great overview of how the current situation has come about, and how regional actors are likely to press ahead in the medium and longterm future. A solid multidisciplinary investigation into a key global issue.' * Christopher Davidson, Reader in Middle East Politics at Durham University *'Combining theoretical perspectives with rich empirical insights, this superb volume offers a comprehensive exploration of nuclear dynamics in a rapidly changing Middle East. The research is well-organized, well-written and highly nuanced - an elusive combination. The authors are informed by a deep historical sensibility, yet are also forward looking in their analyses. In particular, the chapters on the domestic sources of nuclear decision-making will be of immense value to specialists and policymakers grappling with the still-unfolding implications of the Arab revolts and Iran's nuclear ambitions.' * Frederic Wehrey, Senior Policy Analyst, RAND Corporation and author of Coping with a Nuclearizing Iran (RAND, 2011) *'While the world watches Iran, and tries to guess how many nuclear weapons Israel has, nuclear programs are being developed across the Middle East. The timely message in this valuable study of the current situation is that the Middle East is going nuclear whether the world likes it or not.' * Jeremy Salt, Department of Political Science at Bilkent University (Ankara), and author of The Unmaking of the Middle East. A History of Western Disorder in Arab Lands *

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Book SynopsisThere was an expectation that the end of the Cold War would herald a new era of peace and stability in which the importance of nuclear weapons was marginalized. Instead, we have been left with a fractious, inter-dependent international community rife with ethnic and religious tension and unbound by super-power competition. The challenges of climate change, demographic shifts and resource competition have further altered the security environment. As if this were not enough, nuclear proliferation is once again at the top of the international agenda. In the last decade the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has been challenged from within by Iraq, Iran and Libya while India’s, Pakistan’s and North Korea's nuclear weapon capabilities are threatening the non-proliferation norm from without. The new proliferators are predominantly, but not exclusively, aggressive, unstable and authoritarian regimes, considered by many in the international community to be outside the constraints of international normative behaviour. Some have even been labelled `outlaw’, or `rogue’ states. Although inter-continental nuclear war is not presently considered a danger, the increased number of nuclear weapons states combined with the nature of those states and the strategic environment in which they exist makes the possibility of a lesser nuclear exchange potentially much greater. In parallel, the 9/11 atrocities raised fears of the prospect of apocalyptic terrorists acquiring nuclear weapons. Indications that the NPT is failing to rise to the challenge have resulted in policy decisions that have arguably reversed both the disarmament and non-proliferation norms.This volume delves deep into the changing global nuclear landscape. The chapters document the increasing complexity of the global nuclear proliferation dynamic and the inability of the international community to come to terms with a rapidly changing strategic milieu. The future, in all likelihood, will be very different from the past, and the chapters in this volume develop a framework that may helps gain a better understanding of the forces that will shape the nuclear proliferation debate in the years to come.Part I examines the major thematic issues underlying the contemporary discourse on nuclear proliferation.Part II gives an overview of the evolving nuclear policies of the five established nuclear powers: the USA, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and the People's Republic of China. Part III looks at the three de facto nuclear states: India, Pakistan and Israel. Part IV examines two `problem states' in the proliferation matrix today: Iran and North Korea. Part V sheds light on an important issue often ignored during discussions of nuclear proliferation – cases where states have made a deliberate policy choice of either renouncing their nuclear weapons programme, or have decided to remain a threshold state. The cases of South Africa, Egypt and Japan will be the focus of this section.The final section, Part VI, will examine the present state of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, which most observers agree is currently facing a crisis of credibility. The three pillars of this regime – the NPT, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty – will be analyzed.Table of ContentsProposed Contents1 Introduction: Harsh V. PantThematic Issues 2 Nuclear Deterrence: Chris Hobbs and Matthew Harries3 Nuclear Energy and Proliferation: Henry Sokolski4 Non-Proliferation and Counter Proliferation: Mark Fitzpatrick5 Nuclear Weapons and Non-State Actors: Paul Wilkinson6 The Nuclear Taboo: Nina TannenwaldThe Five Nuclear Powers7 The USA: James Wirtz8 Russia: Stephen Blank9 The UK: Paul Ingram and Michael Collins10 France: Corentin Brustlein11 China: Jonathan HolslagDe-Factor Nuclear States12 India: Chris Ogden13 Pakistan: Bhumitra Chakma14 Israel: Arielle KandelThe ‘Problem’ States15 Iran: Anoush Ehteshami16 North Korea: Balbina HwangThe ‘Threshold’ States17 South Africa: Stephen Burgess18 Japan: Takenori Horimoto19 Egypt: Maria Rost RubleeThe Global Non-Proliferation Regime20 The Non-Proliferation Treaty: Mark Hilborne21 The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty: Foundations, Context, and Outlook: Dean Knox22 A Cut-Off of Production of Weapon-Usable Fissionable Material: Considerations, Requirements and IAEA Capabilities: Tariq Rauf23 Trends in Missile Defense and Space Security: Challenging Non-Proliferation Priorities: Bharath Gopalaswami24 The US-India Nuclear Deal: Great Power Politics versus Non-Proliferation: Harsh V. Pant25 Nuclear Disarmament and Nuclear Proliferation: A Complicated Relationship: Tom Sauer26 The Future: A Cautious Prognosis: Malcolm Davis

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Book SynopsisThe Handbook of Nuclear Proliferation delves deep into the changing global nuclear landscape. The chapters document the increasing complexity of the global nuclear proliferation dynamic and the inability of the international community to come to terms with a rapidly changing strategic milieu. The future, in all likelihood, will be very different from the past, and the chapters in this volume develop a framework that aids a better understanding of the forces that will shape the nuclear proliferation debate in the years to come. Part I examines the major thematic issues underlying the contemporary discourse on nuclear proliferation. Part II gives an overview of the evolving nuclear policies of the five established nuclear powers: the USA, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and the People's Republic of China. Part III looks at the three de facto nuclear states: India, Pakistan and Israel. Part IV examines two `problem states' in the proliferation matrix today: Iran and North Korea. Part V sheds light on an important issue often ignored during discussions of nuclear proliferation – cases where states have made a deliberate policy choice of either renouncing their nuclear weapons programme, or have decided to remain a threshold state. The cases of South Africa, Egypt and Japan will be the focus of this section. Part VI, will examine the present state of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, which most observers agree is currently facing a crisis of credibility. The three pillars of this regime – the NPT, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty – will be analyzed.Table of ContentsProposed Contents1 Introduction: Harsh V. PantThematic Issues 2 Nuclear Deterrence: Chris Hobbs and Matthew Harries3 Nuclear Energy and Proliferation: Henry Sokolski4 Non-Proliferation and Counter Proliferation: Mark Fitzpatrick5 Nuclear Weapons and Non-State Actors: Paul Wilkinson6 The Nuclear Taboo: Nina TannenwaldThe Five Nuclear Powers7 The USA: James Wirtz8 Russia: Stephen Blank9 The UK: Paul Ingram and Michael Collins10 France: Corentin Brustlein11 China: Jonathan HolslagDe-Factor Nuclear States12 India: Chris Ogden13 Pakistan: Bhumitra Chakma14 Israel: Arielle KandelThe ‘Problem’ States15 Iran: Anoush Ehteshami16 North Korea: Balbina HwangThe ‘Threshold’ States17 South Africa: Stephen Burgess18 Japan: Takenori Horimoto19 Egypt: Maria Rost RubleeThe Global Non-Proliferation Regime20 The Non-Proliferation Treaty: Mark Hilborne21 The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty: Foundations, Context, and Outlook: Dean Knox22 A Cut-Off of Production of Weapon-Usable Fissionable Material: Considerations, Requirements and IAEA Capabilities: Tariq Rauf23 Trends in Missile Defense and Space Security: Challenging Non-Proliferation Priorities: Bharath Gopalaswami24 The US-India Nuclear Deal: Great Power Politics versus Non-Proliferation: Harsh V. Pant25 Nuclear Disarmament and Nuclear Proliferation: A Complicated Relationship: Tom Sauer26 The Future: A Cautious Prognosis: Malcolm Davis

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Book SynopsisPhotographs have played a crucial role in shaping perceptions of nuclear weapons and nuclear energy. In Camera Atomica, art historian John O’Brian explores the intimate relationship between photography and nuclear events to uncover how the camera lens has shaped public perceptions of the atomic age and its anxieties. Bringing together both vintage and contemporary photographs that have recorded and, in certain instances, provided motivation for the production of nuclear events, O’Brian travels through history — from the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 to the triple meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi in 2011. In this vivid volume, readers will encounter more than 200 images that simultaneously document and raise questions about the contradictory roles of photography during this period. Included are Hiromitso Toyosaki and Shomei Tomatsu’s photographs of hibakusha (individuals exposed to radiation from atomic bombs), David McMillan’s photographs at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and Sandy Skoglund’s darkly humorous Radioactive Cats, along with photographs by Nancy Burson, Edward Burtynsky, Carol Condé and Karl Beveridge, Kenji Higuchi, Richard Misrach, Weegee, and many others.

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Book SynopsisQuestions the integrity of a society that accepts nuclear deterrents as valid forms of defence. Focuses on a lack of respect for international humanitarian law and the integrity of a society able to act compassionately in the wider public interest.Awakens UK to a need for a government that will work on a global ban for nuclear weapons.

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Book SynopsisThe UK is one of nine states possessing nuclear weapons. Renewal of the Trident programme would extend Britain’s commitment to so-called nuclear ‘deterrence’ well into the second half of this century, despite treaty obligations and an ‘unequivocal undertaking’ to disarm. With more than 16,000 nuclear weapons stockpiled worldwide, the risk of one going off by accident or design is increasing every day. Wallis in The Truth about Trident explores the issues Trident presents and raises questions like: what would be the impact of their use? How safe are they in the meantime? Are they really necessary? Can we afford them? Are there better alternatives? This book aims to peel back layers of confusion and deceit to reach the truth about Trident.Trade ReviewI have been opposed to Trident all my adult life – revolted by its presence in Scottish waters, infuriated by supporters who should know a lot better. Yet I have never been fully equipped to argue every point of my case for its cancellation – until reading this book. The Truth About Trident is a lucid, authoritative and vital instrument of peace. - PAT KANETable of ContentsList of Abbreviations Acknowledgements Author’s Preface Introduction: Getting at the Truth Part 1: The Basics Chapter 1. What is Trident? Chapter 2. What is Radiation? Chapter 3. What is Deterrence? Chapter 4. What is Mutually Assured Destruction? Part 2: We Need Trident For Our Security Chapter 5 Did Nuclear Weapons End WWII? Chapter 6 Have Nuclear Weapons ‘Kept the Peace’ Since 1945? Chapter 7 Are Nuclear Weapons Keeping Us Safe Today? Chapter 8 Do Nuclear Weapons Protect Us From Future Risks? Part 3: We Need Trident to Maintain our Place in the World Chapter 9 NATO and the ‘Special Relationship’ Chapter 10 Is Trident Really ‘Independent’? Chapter 11 Does Trident Give the uk a Seat at the Top Table? Part 4: We can Manage Trident Legally, Safely, Responsibly Chapter 12 Are Nuclear Weapons Legal? Chapter 13 Are the UK’s Nuclear Weapons Safe? Chapter 14 Is Renewal of Trident Affordable? Chapter 15 Do We Need Trident to Protect Jobs? Chapter 16 What About Scotland? Part 5 : We are Doing all we can to Disarm Chapter 17 Is the UK Committed to ‘Multilateral’ Disarmament? Chapter 18 Hasn’t the UK Already Disarmed to the Minimum? Chapter 19 Would Disarmament by the UK Have Any Effect? Part 6: The Bomb is Here to Stay Chapter 20 ‘But You Can’t Uninvent the Bomb’ Chapter 21 Would Opposition to Trident Make Labour ‘Unelectable’? Chapter 22 Can Nuclear Weapons be Morally Acceptable? Chapter 23 Does Trident Fit the World of Today? Part 7: Wrapping it all up Chapter 24 The Truth About Trident 218 Appendix I: Treaty On The Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)Appendix II: Summary of Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons References Endnotes Quakers in Britain

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of a very British deterrent. Much has been written about the V-bombers – the Valiant, Victor and Vulcan – but virtually nothing has been said about their strategic nuclear strike role. How would Britain’s small force of subsonic bombers have retaliated following a Soviet attack? Would they have succeeded in visiting thermonuclear catastrophe on their Soviet targets? V-Bombers: Britain’s Nuclear Frontline in the Cold War is the first detailed account of the operational capability and credibility of the airborne nuclear deterrent during the peak years of confrontation with the Soviet Union. This book is the product of seven years of research by the author, Dr Tony Redding. It includes a great deal of fresh material on V-Force weapons, war mission, targeting, vulnerabilities and tactics for attacking targets within Soviet Russia. Over 70 V-Force aircrew and ground crew were interviewed and over 300 operational research reports and other official documents reviewed. The author demonstrates how the V-bombers retained a unilateral capacity to destroy a small number of the very largest cities in the Soviet Union in the period until the handover of the strategic nuclear deterrent to the Polaris submarines in 1969. This core retaliatory threat, centred on the destruction of Moscow and Leningrad, was judged severe enough to undermine Russia’s position in relation to the United States. In short, a few British V-bombers had the destructive capacity to destabilise the balance between the superpowers. The book concludes that, within the first few hours, a small force of surviving V-bombers could have unleashed the explosive power of all Allied bombs dropped on Germany in six years of war. A sobering thought and a fascinating and necessary read for all those interested in this period of history.

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Book SynopsisThe nine nuclear weapon states are extending their commitments to nuclear ‘deterrence’ well into the second half of this century, despite treaty obligations and an ‘unequivocal undertaking’ to disarm. The us alone is expecting to spend up to $1 trillion (ie. $1,000,000,000,000) upgrading its nuclear weapons over the next 30 years. With around 15,000 nuclear weapons stockpiled worldwide, the risk of one going off by accident or design is increasing every day. Timmon Milne Wallis explores the arguments in favour of nuclear weapons with a critical eye, cutting through the rhetoric and obfuscation to get to the real truth about these weapons.

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Book SynopsisJapan is the only country in the world to have been attacked with nuclear weapons. Her anti-nuclear Civil Society Organisations - with their experiences of coping with the fallout of the atom bomb blasts - are passionately committed to their cause. While international treaties are final objectives, there is another effective diplomatic approach towards nuclear disarmament: CSO diplomacy might open the window of deadlocked inter-state negotiations.The role of civil society in the field of security is relatively new, coming to prominence during the establishment of the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines, the so-called Ottawa Treaty.The Treaty signalled that the role, presence and decision of governments are essential. This is an investigation into how Japanese CSOs have influenced the Japanese official policy with regards to nuclear disarmament. It focuses on the private diplomacy of CSOs; on the mitigation of inter-state conflicts that lie behind nuclear issues; and on the involvement of governments in social movements of nuclear disarmament.Dr Kazuhiro Tobisawa suggests that developing a solid understand of the pertinent issues surrounding Japaneses CSOs could lead to the resolution of half-a-century of failed attempts at nuclear disarmament.

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Book SynopsisThe #1 national bestselling “riveting” (The New York Times), “propulsive” (Time) behind-the-scenes account “that reads like a tense thriller” (The Washington Post) of the 116 days leading up to the American attack on Hiroshima, by Chris Wallace, veteran journalist and CNN anchor and Max host.April 12, 1945: After years of bloody conflict in Europe and the Pacific, America is stunned by news of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s death. In an instant, Vice President Harry Truman, who has been kept out of war planning and knows nothing of the top-secret Manhattan Project to develop the world’s first atomic bomb, must assume command of a nation at war on multiple continents—and confront one of the most consequential decisions in history. Countdown 1945 tells the gripping true story of the turbulent days, weeks, and months to follow, leading up to August 6, 1945, when Truman gives the order to drop the bomb on Hiroshima. In Countdown 1945, Chris Wallace, the veteran journalist and CNN anchor and Max host, takes readers inside the minds of the iconic and elusive figures who join the quest for the bomb, each for different reasons: the legendary Albert Einstein, who eventually calls his vocal support for the atomic bomb “the one great mistake in my life”; lead researcher J. Robert “Oppie” Oppenheimer and the Soviet spies who secretly infiltrate his team; the fiercely competitive pilots of the plane selected to drop the bomb; and many more. Perhaps most of all, Countdown 1945 is the story of an untested new president confronting a decision that he knows will change the world forever. But more than a book about the atomic bomb, Countdown 1945 is also an unforgettable account of the lives of ordinary American and Japanese civilians in wartime—from “Calutron Girls” like Ruth Sisson in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to ten-year-old Hiroshima resident Hideko Tamura, who survives the blast at ground zero but loses her mother and later immigrates to the United States, where she lives to this day—as well as American soldiers fighting in the Pacific, waiting in fear for the order to launch a possible invasion of Japan. Told with vigor, intelligence, and humanity, Countdown 1945 is the definitive account of one of the most significant moments in history.

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Book SynopsisThis book presents a comprehensive overview of Ukraine's nuclear history, beginning from its experiences within the Russian Empire in the early 20th century, through the Soviet period, to the emergence of Ukraine as an independent state that inherited the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal. The book discusses the development of the nuclear infrastructure on Ukrainian soil and offers a rich and nuanced background of how Ukraine became an important and integrated part of the Soviet nuclear infrastructure. It further analyzes Ukraine's nuclear disarmament based on extensive primary source material and places the Ukrainian nuclear reversal process in a larger international political context where Russia´s, the United States, and other players´ actions are interpreted in the light of the impact on the current nuclear non-proliferation regime. Finally, the book presents the nuclear-related development after the nuclear disarmament. It describes the integration of Ukraine into the international community and the role of nuclear power in the energy mix of the nation today. Concluding, Ukraine´s adaptation to the new security situation after the Russian annexation of Crimea is described and discussed. This volume is a must-read for scholars, researchers, students, and policy-makers interested in a better understanding of Ukraine's nuclear history, the political background of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, as well as of security studies and international relations in general. The work on this book has been supported by the Swedish Radiation Authority (SSM) in the Nuclear History of Ukraine Project (2015-2019).Trade Review“The real value of this book is that it engages in a thorough and timely manner with some deeply ingrained biases and assumptions.” (Jonathan Hibberd, International Affairs, Vol. 99 (1), 2023)Table of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction: Understanding the Nuclear History of Ukraine.- Chapter 2. Ukraine’s Contribution to The Soviet Union’s Nuclear Programme.- Chapter 3. Nuclear Disarmament of Ukraine.- Chapter 4. Nuclear Energy in Independent Ukraine.- Chapter 5. Conclusion: Lessons to Be Learned.

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Book SynopsisThis book focuses on three main subjects: the DPRK's inability to survive as a nuclear state; the importance of China’s role in encouraging denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula; and the possibility of an alternative political organization for the DPRK including a transition to a market-economy in exchange for giving up its nuclear weapons. The book approaches North Korean issues from the perspective that the regime cannot survive without nuclear weapons which, rather than being a genuine danger to other states, are bargaining chips for security and survival. The book includes views from prominent academics and practitioners, including a former British ambassador to North Korea, putting forward an ambitious set of recommendations and analyses based on hands-on experience in the region. Table of Contents1. Introduction.- 2. North Korea and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. By Chan Young Bang.- 3. Only one approach to denuclearization will work, and it will bring economic benefits to South Korea. By Chan Young Bang.- 4. North Korea's nuclear capability and what the implications are for wider East Asia. By Sung-wook Nam.- 5. Learning to Love the Bomb: Depictions of Nuclear and Missile Technology in North Korean Literature. By Meredith Shaw.- 6. The North Korean Nuclear Issue: Root Causes and Solutions. By Zhibo Zou.- 7. The situation on the Peninsula out of the vicious circle requires consideration of the concerns of all sides. By Guohong Qiu.- 8. Can the DPRK Preserve Its Sovereignty Without Nuclear Armaments?. By John Everard.- 9. Armistice, North Korean nuclear crisis and peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. By Lei Wang.

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Book SynopsisOriginating in the armed forces of the early 20th century, weapons based on chemical, biological or nuclear agents have become an everpresent threat that has not vanished after the end of the cold war. Since the technology to produce these agents is nowadays available to many countries and organizations, including those with terrorist aims, civil authorities across the world need to prepare against incidents involving these agents and train their personnel accordingly. As an introductory text on NBC CBRN weapons and agents, this book leads the reader from the scientific basics to the current threats and strategies to prepare against them. After an introductory part on the history of NBC CBRN weapons and their international control, the three classes of nuclear/radiological, biological, and chemical weapons are introduced, focusing on agents and delivery vehicles. Current methods for the rapid detection of NBC CBRN agents are introduced, and the principles of physical protection of humans and structures are explained. The final parts addresses more general issues of risk management, preparedness and response management, as the set of tools that authorities and civil services will be needed in a future CBRN scenario as well as the likely future scenarios that authorities and civil services will be faced with in the coming years. This book is a must-have for Health Officers, Public Health Agencies, and Military Authorities.Table of ContentsForeword XV Preface XVII About the Editors XIX List of Contributors XXIII Part I History and Treaties in CBRN -- Warfare and Terrorism 1 1 A Glance Back -- Myths and Facts about CBRN Incidents 3Andre Richardt and Frank Sabath 1.1 Introduction 3 1.2 History of Chemical Warfare 4 1.3 Introduction to Biological Warfare 13 1.4 Introduction to Radiological and Nuclear Warfare 22 2 International Treaties -- Only a Matter for Diplomats? 39Martin Schaarschmidt 2.1 Introduction to the Minefield of Negotiations 39 2.2 Why It Is so Difficult to Implement International Regulations? 42 2.3 Historic Development of Treaties -- the Link to the Incidents 46 2.4 Today's System of Treaties -- a Global Network 47 2.5 Nuclear Weapons 54 2.6 Organizations 63 2.7 Conclusions and Where Does the Road Lead? 64 Part II CBRN Characteristics -- Is There Something Inimitable? 67 3 Chemical Agents -- Small Molecules with Deadly Properties 69Hans-Jurgen Altmann, Silke Oelze, and Bernd Niemeyer 3.1 Are Special Properties Required for Chemical Warfare Agents? 69 3.2 How can we Classify Chemical Warfare Agents? 71 3.3 Properties of Chemical Warfare Agents 78 3.4 Choking and Irritant Agents 97 3.5 Incapacitating Agents 99 3.6 Dissemination Systems of Chemical Warfare Agents 99 3.7 Conclusions and Outlook 101 4 Characteristics of Biological Warfare Agents -- Diversity of Biology 103Birgit Hulseweh 4.1 What Is Special? 104 4.2 Types of Biological Agents 104 4.3 Risk Classification of Biological and Biological Warfare Agents 110 4.4 Routes of Entry 114 4.5 Origin, Spreading, and Availability 118 4.6 The Biological Event -- Borderline to Pandemics, Endemics, and Epidemics 121 4.7 The Bane of Biotechnology -- Genetically Engineered Pathogens 121 4.8 Conclusions and Outlook 123 5 Characteristics of Nuclear and Radiological Weapons 125Ronald Rambousky and Frank Sabath 5.1 Introduction to Nuclear Explosions 126 5.2 Direct Effects 133 5.3 Indirect Effects 149 5.4 Radiological Weapons 159 Part III CBRN Sensors -- Key Technology for an Effective CBRN Countermeasure Strategy 167 6 Why Are Reliable CBRN Detector Technologies Needed? 169Birgit Hulseweh, Hans-Jurgen Marschall, Ronald Rambousky, and Andre Richardt 6.1 Introduction 169 6.2 A Concept to Track CBRN Substances 170 6.3 Low-Level Exposure and Operational Risk Management 175 6.4 Conclusions and Outlook 177 7 Analysis of Chemical Warfare Agents -- Searching for Molecules 179Andre Richardt, Martin Jung, and Bernd Niemeyer 7.1 Analytical Chemistry -- the Scientific Basis for Searching Molecules 180 7.2 Standards for Chemical Warfare Agent Sensor Systems and Criteria for Deployment 182 7.3 False Alarm Rate and Limit of Sensitivity 184 7.4 Technologies for Chemical Warfare Agent Sensor Systems 185 7.5 Testing of Chemical Warfare Agent Detectors 203 7.6 Conclusions and Future Developments 206 8 Detection and Analysis of Biological Agents 211Birgit Hulseweh and Hans-Jurgen Marschall 8.1 What Makes the Difference? 212 8.2 The Ideal Detection and Identification Platform 215 8.3 Bioaerosols: Particulate and Biological Background 216 8.4 Aerosol Detection -- A Tool for Threat Monitoring 217 8.5 Sampling of Biological Agents 223 8.6 Identification of Biological Warfare Agents 229 8.7 Developing and Upcoming Technologies 238 8.8 Conclusions 239 9 Measurement of Ionizing Radiation 243Ronald Rambousky 9.1 Why Is Detection of Ionizing Radiation So Important? 244 9.2 Physical Quantities used to Describe Radioactivity and Ionizing Radiation 248 9.3 Different Measuring Tasks Concerning Ionizing Radiation 251 9.4 Basics of Radiation Detectors 256 9.5 Gamma Dose Rate and Detection of Gamma Radiation 266 9.6 Conclusions and Outlook 271 Part IV Technologies for Physical Protection 273 10 Filter Technology -- Clean Air is Required 275Andre Richardt and Thomas Dawert 10.1 Filters -- Needed Technology Equipment for Collective and Individual Protection 275 10.2 General Considerations 276 10.3 What are the Principles for Filtration and Air-Cleaning? 278 10.4 Test Methods 286 10.5 Selection Process for CBRN Filters 290 10.6 Conclusions and Outlook 292 11 Individual Protective Equipment -- Do You Know What to Wear? 295Karola Hagner and Friedrich Hesse 11.1 Basics of Individual Protection 296 11.2 Which Challenges for Individual Protection Equipment (IPE) Can Be Identified? 296 11.3 The Way to Design Individual Protective Equipment 298 11.4 Function 299 11.5 Ergonomics -- a Key Element for Individual Protection Equipment 301 11.6 Donning and Doffing -- Training Is Required 305 11.7 Overview of IPE Items -- They Have to Act in Concert 306 11.8 Quality Assurance 326 11.9 Workplace Safety 327 11.10 Future Prospects 327 12 Collective Protection -- A Secure Area in a Toxic Environment 331Andre Richardt and Bernd Niemeyer 12.1 Why Is Collective Protection of Interest? 332 12.2 Collective Protection Systems -- Required for Different Scenarios 337 12.3 Basic Design 341 12.4 Conclusions and Outlook 348 Part V Cleanup after a CBRN Event 351 13 Decontamination of Chemical Warfare Agents -- What is Thorough? 353Hans Jurgen Altmann, Martin Jung, and Andre Richardt 13.1 What Is Decontamination? 353 13.2 Dispersal and Fate of Chemical Warfare Agents 354 13.3 Decontamination Media for Chemical Warfare Agents 356 13.4 Selected Chemical Warfare Agents and Decont Reaction Schemes 369 13.5 Soman (GD) 372 13.6 VX 372 13.7 Catalysis in Decontamination 373 13.8 Decont Procedures 375 13.9 Conclusions and Outlook 380 14 Principles and Practice of Disinfection of Biological Warfare Agents -- How Clean is Clean Enough? 383Andre Richardt and Birgit Hulseweh 14.1 General Principles of Disinfection and Decontamination 384 14.2 Mechanisms of Action of Biocides against Microorganisms 385 14.3 Levels of Disinfection 390 14.4 Biological Target Sites of Selected Biocides 393 14.5 The Spores Problem 395 14.6 Inactivation as Kinetic Process 399 14.7 Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficiency 401 14.8 Carrier Tests versus Suspension Tests 403 14.9 Resistance to Biocide Inactivation -- a Growing Concern 405 14.10 New and Emerging Technologies for Disinfection 408 14.11 "Is Clean Clean Enough'' or "How Clean Is Clean Enough''? 408 15 Radiological/Nuclear Decontamination -- Reduce the Risk 411Nikolaus Schneider 15.1 Why Is Radiological/Nuclear Decontamination So Special? 412 15.2 Contamination 414 15.3 Decontamination 418 15.4 Conclusions and Outlook 428 Part VI CBRN Risk Management -- Are We Prepared to Respond? 431 16 Preparedness 433Marc-Michael Blum, Andre Richardt, and Kai Kehe 16.1 Introduction to Risk Management 433 16.2 Key Elements Influencing a Counter-CBRN Strategy 436 16.3 A Special Strategy for CBRN 438 16.4 Proliferation Prevention 456 16.5 Active Countermeasures 458 16.6 If Things Get Real: Responding to a CBRN Event 459 16.7 Research 473 16.8 Aftermath Action -- Lessons Learned 474 16.9 Conclusions and Outlook 475 References 476 Index 479

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