The Politics of Nuclear Weapons
- Andrew Futter - University of Leicester, UK
This book provides an introduction to political and strategic aspects of nuclear weaponry. It offers an accessible overview of the concept of nuclear weapons, outlines how thinking about these weapons has developed and considers how nuclear threats can continue to be managed in the future.
It includes:
- Coverage of nuclear testing, proliferation, strategy, global actors and disarmament.
- Analysis of contemporary topics such as nuclear terrorism.
- A timeline of key nuclear events.
- Annotated further reading lists helping you to locate sources for essays and assignments.
- Summaries, study questions and a glossary of key terms
- Free SAGE journal articles available on the Resources tab
The author will be providing regular updates to his suggested web resources, so be sure to check the Resources tab for the most up-to-date.
The Politics of Nuclear Weapons is essential reading for both undergraduate and postgraduate students taking courses in Nuclear Politics.
Andrew Futter has written a superb textbook on the politics of nuclear weapons, covering both technical and political matters with original insight, expert commentary and thorough organization that makes this an excellent choice for undergraduate and graduate courses in international relations, foreign policy and military strategy.
This timely book will provide students and academics alike with a valuable foundation for understanding nuclear weapons related issues in both historical and contemporary contexts. Andrew Futter guides the reader through the technologies, strategies and debates that have characterized the nuclear age from the Manhatten Project to present day concerns over the potential for nuclear terrorism and Iran's continued nuclearization.
The book offers a meaningful synthesis of a wide variety of facts and opinions on key issues concerning nuclear weapons. Succinctly yet accurately, Futter describes the early years of the development of nuclear weapons and nuclear strategies, discusses differences between vertical and horizontal proliferation, identifies the obstacles associated with managing nuclear proliferation and disarmament, and addresses the challenges related to the access of non-state actors to nuclear weapons.
This book provides an excellent insight to political and strategic aspects of nuclear weapons, with a well-written and concise overview of the concept, development, attitudes towards and threats of these WMDs. A good companion for teachers and students alike on a fairly specific topic.
This will be an irreplaceable textbook for a final-year module that I currently deliver to History and Politics students: HI3125 Nuclear Politics and Proliferation. In my view there is nothing comparable to this text available. It is accessibly and clearly written. It condenses the large and complex literature for initiates to the field. It is up-to-date with current scholarship and contemporary debates. As such it lacks competitors in the textbook market and fills a major gap. It is fundamentally student-friendly. Henceforth, it will be a permanent fixture on my recommended reading lists. In addition, I am developing an online module this forthcoming Autumn for the MA Strategic Studies. The module will operate from Sept. 2016 (subject to recruitment). This text from Andrew Futter will also serve as a critical text that I will be recommending as part of the reading for this module.
Thank you
This book will supplement my course importantly
Sample Materials & Chapters
Annotated Web Resources (UPDATED 29.02.16)
Albright et al. 'Bin Laden and the Bomb'
Chambers, 'Bombs Away, Britain and Nuclear Weapons under New Labour'
Jones, 'Countdown to Classification'
Kristensen & Norris, 'Indian Nuclear Forces 2012'
Kristensen & Norris, 'Russian Nuclear Forces 2013'
Kristensen & Norris, 'US Nuclear forces 2013'
Norris & Kristensen, 'Global Nuclear Weapons Inventories, 1945-2010'
Norris & Kristensen, 'The British Nuclear Stockpile 1953-2013'
Norris & Kristensen, 'US tactical Weapons in Europe, 2010'
Sauer & Van Der Zwannm, 'US Tactical Nuclear Weapons'
