Weapons of Mass Destruction

The Search for Global Security

By (author) Joseph M. Siracusa, Aiden Warren

Not available to order

Publication date:

29 March 2017

Length of book:

278 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9781442242388

Whether possessed by a state or non-state actor, the specter of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs), and more specifically, nuclear weapons and their associated material, present a significant threat to global security. Notwithstanding the fact that there are fewer nuclear weapons today than the massive stockpiles that existed during the height of the Cold War, the complexities relating to nuclear security have in many ways intensified amid globalization and porous borders. More states in volatile regions possess such weapons, UN Security Council states are busily modernizing their weapons, and non-states actors have made it clear their intention to use such weapons should they attain them. The emerging prospect of a cyber-attack, or a misunderstanding that could potentially evolve into a limited regional nuclear war, would both have dire global ramifications and are scenarios that should not be considered farfetched. Additionally, concerns pertaining to chemical and biological weapons, the associated ramifications relating to nuclear terrorism, and broader limitations of the NPT regime, all pose major challenges to global stability. In considering all of these areas, this foundational primer for the Rowman and Littlefield WMD Series seeks to inform and advance policy debate in ways that support international security, while also adding important connective tissue between analytical areas in the IR and historical domains that often remain separate.

Offering a comprehensive analysis of the evolution and current status of WMDs, this volume will be of great interest to scholars, analysts, and students of security studies, international history, and international relations.

Abbreviations/Acronyms
Introduction
Chapter 1. World War II and the Race for the A-Bomb
Chapter 2. The Cold War
Part a: The Nuclear Arms Race and NSC 68
Part b: Reagan, Gorbachev and the end of the Cold War
Chapter 3. UN Security Council Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) – United Kingdom, France and China
Chapter 4. Non-UN Security Council Nuclear Weapon States – Israel, India, Pakistan, North Korea (and Iran)
Chapter 5. The Global Nuclear Non-proliferation Regime
Chapter 6. The Modern Era: The Post-Cold War and Beyond
Chapter 7. Biological and Chemical Weapons, and Nuclear Terrorism
Conclusion
Bibliography

Siracusa and Warren achieve an exceptional feat by packing several decades worth of WMD history into a neat read. They take us on a journey starting in the Cold War and guide us to today, telling the story of how most destructive weapons remained a steady and dangerous fixture of the international security landscape. The authors provided true service to the field by writing a foundational text that serves as a perfect introduction to the field of WMD non-proliferation.