Nuclear myths and social discourse: the U.S. decision to pursue nuclear weapons

Download
Author
Williams, David L.
Date
1996-12Advisor
Callahan, Mary
Lavoy, Peter
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Why do countries want nuclear weapons? This question has plagued non- proliferation and U.S. intelligence experts since the beginning of the nuclear era. Motivations for nuclear weapons typically are viewed as the product of external variables (perceived insecurity, prestige, etc.). This thesis asserts that a different level of analysis is appropriate. It is a society's beliefs about nuclear technology that at least partially explains nuclear proliferation. The 1939 U.S. decision to develop nuclear weapons is examined in light of early American beliefs about nuclear technology. I show that various cultural texts and statements by influential elites made policy makers believe in the military utility of nuclear energy. If these texts and statements had not existed, President Roosevelt might not have launched the Manhattan Project
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Diesel Submarine Support to SOF
Ferrer, Geraldo; Veronneau, Simon (Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate SchoolMonterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2019-12); NPS-19-N062-AGiven the limited availability of submarines to support SOF and the potential to save billions of dollars, as well as improve a capability through quiet, shallow-water capable submarines, a review of potential diesel-electric ... -
Diesel Submarine Support to SOF
Ferrer, Geraldo; Veronneau, Simon (Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate SchoolMonterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2019-12); NPS-19-N062-AGiven the limited availability of submarines to support SOF and the potential to save billions of dollars, as well as improve a capability through quiet, shallow-water capable submarines, a review of potential diesel-electric ... -
The deterrence of nuclear terrorism through an attribution capability
Arbuckle, Larry J. (Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2008-06);The state of the world is such that the pace of nuclear weapons proliferation appears to be increasing. The growing number of nuclear states and amount of nuclear material available poses a great challenge to those that ...