Introductory description

Nuclear weapons are arguably the most destructive technology human beings have ever invented. Even a ‘limited’ nuclear war would likely kill huge numbers of people, plants and animals, cause massive damage to infrastructure and property, and have a major effect on the global polity and economy. And yet, the prospect of fighting and ‘winning’ a limited nuclear war is still being actively debated in government, military, and scientific circles. For this reason alone, studying the contemporary debate on nuclear strategy is not only important, but also timely and urgent.

Nuclear weapons may well embody technology at its most threatening and potentially lethal, but they are also deeply embedded in the social and cultural fabric of the world. The global politics of nuclear weapons is not only concerned with such things as international negotiations on arms control and proliferation, but also with narratives and representations of nuclear power and nuclear weapons. Examples of these narratives include photography, film, music, literature, advertising and other forms of information, sales, and entertainment.

In this module we examine the politics of nuclear weapons not as a static ‘field’ of inquiry, but as a series of cross-cutting and overlapping narratives engaged in an ongoing struggle for dominance before a global ‘audience’. We examine the science of nuclear power, the historical context leading to the creation of the first atomic bombs and their use against Japan, and the proliferation of nuclear weapons and evolution of nuclear strategy. We then turn to an analysis of the politics of restraint: exploring public reactions to this seductive yet terrifying technology, and the subsequent emergence of a nuclear ‘taboo’; efforts to regulate and control the use and proliferation of nuclear weapons; and the rise and impact of the anti-nuclear movement. Finally, we discuss contemporary concerns such as terrorism, the resilience of critical infrastructure, and the politics of fear.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: First Use in Japan
Week 3: The Perils of Nuclearism
Week 4: Nuclear Strategy
Week 5: Arms Control
Week 6: Reading Week
Week 7: Politics of Restraint I: The NPT
Week 8: Politics of Restraint II: The Nuclear Taboo
Week 9: Politics of Restraint III: Anti-Nuclear Advocacy
Week 10: Horizontal Proliferation: Rogues, Terrorists, and Nuclear Outliers

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a sound grasp of the main theoretical arguments and substantive issues regarding nuclear weapons;
• Demonstrate knowledge of the key actors in the politics of nuclear weapons, and the institutions and processes through which they interact;
• Apply the knowledge they have gained to questions of policy affecting organisations both in the public and private sectors;
• Present work coherently and to a high academic standard

Subject specific skills

TBC

Transferable skills

TBC