Politics of Nuclear Weapons

B-29 Bombers

Aircraft designed for atomic bombing, featuring lightweight designs for enhanced maneuverability and payload capacity.

Lightweight Designs

Design attribute of B-29 bombers that enhanced their maneuverability and payload capacity.

Fuel Injection Systems

Technology used in B-29 bombers to replace carburetors for more efficient fuel management.

Quick-Closing Bomb Doors

Feature of B-29 bombers designed to minimize drag during bomb deployment.

Casualties in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Catastrophic loss of life resulting from atomic bombings; 90,000 to 146,000 in Hiroshima and 40,000 to 80,000 in Nagasaki.

Stimson's View on the Bomb

Henry Stimson argued that the atomic bomb was essential for hastening WWII's end and avoiding higher casualties in an invasion.

Debate on Nuclear Use

Limited discussion on the atomic bomb's use due to secrecy; unclear if Truman ordered it.

Japanese Surrender and Nuclear Weapons

Japan's demand for unconditional surrender complicated justifications for the atomic bomb's deployment.

Post-War Claims about Nuclear Weapons

Both U.S. and Soviet leaders claimed nuclear weapons were crucial for Japan's surrender.

Nuclear Weapons and Global Politics

Nuclear weapons influence state behaviors, international relations, and global norms due to their destructive capacity.

Gun-type Bombs

Nuclear bombs that use two sub-critical masses of uranium-235 for an explosion.

Implosion Bombs

Nuclear bombs that compress plutonium with conventional explosives to achieve critical mass.

Thermonuclear Weapons

Weapons involving multiple stages, including fission and fusion, amplifying explosion yields.

Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU)

Uranium requiring extensive enrichment to isolate uranium-235 for nuclear weapons.

Plutonium Production

Plutonium is generated through nuclear reactions and requires chemical isolation for weapon use.

U.S. Nonproliferation Policy

Efforts by the United States to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation and safeguard national security.

Preventive War in Nonproliferation

Military action aimed at eliminating nuclear facilities before weapons are developed.

Regime Change and Nuclear Threats

Overthrowing regimes perceived as threats to nuclear proliferation.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

An agreement aimed at preventing nuclear weapons spread and promoting disarmament.

Rutherford's Atomic Model (1911)

Provided fundamental understanding of atomic structure for later nuclear theories.

Discovery of the Neutron

Chadwick's 1932 discovery that enabled further exploration of atomic reactions.

Nuclear Fission

Discovered by Meitner and Frisch in 1938, it was pivotal for developing nuclear weaponry.

Enrico Fermi's Contribution

Developed the world's first nuclear reactor, Chicago PILE-1, critical to the Manhattan Project.

Nuclear Revolution Theory

Posits that the existence of nuclear weapons reshapes international politics, promoting peace to avoid conflict.

Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)

A doctrine suggesting that the certainty of retaliation hinders nuclear engagement between states.

Psychological Factors in Nuclear Policy

Motivations for revenge complicate traditional deterrent strategies in nuclear policy.

Evolution of U.S. Nuclear Strategy

Shifts from massive retaliation to flexible response reflect changing global dynamics.

Luck in Nuclear Safety

Fortuitous circumstances that historically prevented nuclear catastrophes raise concerns over safety measures.

Common Myths about Nuclear Risks

Misconceptions about terrorist capabilities necessitate robust security for nuclear materials.

U.S. Nuclear Strategy Evolution

Reflects shifts in global dynamics and security pressures impacting foreign policy.

Nuclear Taboo

The non-use of nuclear weapons since 1945 stems from social norms beyond mere strategic deterrence.

Post-War Historical Claims

Historians debate the true necessity of the atomic bomb for Japan's surrender amid strategic motivations.

Nuclear Deterrence and Technology

Evolving technologies necessitate reassessment of strategies governing nuclear weapons.

International Cooperation in Nuclear Management

Lessons from the Cuban Missile Crisis highlighted the need for collaborative frameworks in nuclear safety.

Role of Coercion and Sabotage

Methods employed to curb nuclear programs by applying pressure and conducting covert operations.

Fuel Flow Meters

Used in B-29 bombers for accurate monitoring of fuel consumption during flight.

Impact of the Manhattan Project

Characterized by secrecy and diverse research paths; mobilized significant U.S. workforce.

Casualties and Long-term Effects

Many survivors of the bombings suffered long-term radiation effects beyond immediate deaths.

Post-War Narrative on Atomic Bombs

Claims emphasized the bombs' necessity for Japan's surrender despite evidence of impending defeat.

Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)

Treaty between the U.S. and Russia aiming to reduce and limit strategic offensive arms.

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)

International treaty banning all nuclear explosions for both civilian and military purposes.

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)

An agreement to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and promote peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Process of mining, refining, and using nuclear fuel, including uranium enrichment and waste management.

Bilateral Nuclear Agreements

Mutual agreements between two countries aimed at controlling and reducing nuclear arsenals.

Multilateral Nuclear Agreements

Agreements involving multiple countries to promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

Nuclear Security Summits

G20-led meetings aimed at preventing nuclear terrorism and improving global nuclear security.

Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)

An international group that seeks to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of nuclear materials.

Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty (FMCT)

Proposed treaty to prohibit the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons.

Nuclear Disarmament

The process of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons stockpiles through treaties and agreements.

Nuclear Weapons Proliferation

The spread of nuclear weapons and technology among nations, raising global security concerns.

Nuclear Deterrence Theory

The idea that possession of nuclear weapons prevents adversaries from engaging in conflict due to fear of retaliation.

First Strike vs. Second Strike Capability

First strike refers to an attack initiated by a nuclear state, while second strike capability ensures retaliatory capacity after being hit.

Nuclear Posture Review (NPR)

A U.S. document outlining nuclear strategy and policy changes in response to global security environments.

Counterforce vs. Countervalue Strategies

Counterforce targets military assets, while countervalue targets urban centers and infrastructure.

Nuclear Threshold States

Countries that possess nuclear capabilities but have not yet weaponized them or refrained from their use.

Disarmament and Arms Control Initiatives

Efforts aimed at reducing nuclear arsenals and preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.

Strategic Stability

A state in which no nation has the incentive to use nuclear weapons due to assured mutual destruction.

Nuclear Umbrella

Security guarantee provided by a nuclear state to protect allied nations under its nuclear deterrent.

Arms Race

An escalation of weaponry development among nations, often driven by security competition.

Second Strike Capability

The assured ability of a nuclear state to retaliate with nuclear weapons after absorbing an initial strike from an adversary.

Importance of Second Strike Capability

Crucial for maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent, ensuring that adversaries are deterred from launching a first strike.

Assured Destruction

A state of deterrence where a nation can ensure significant retaliation, making first strikes less appealing to adversaries.

Survivability in Nuclear Strategy

Measures taken to ensure a state's second strike capability remains intact despite a first strike by an opponent.

Nuclear Strike

A military strategy involving the use of nuclear weapons to achieve specific military or political objectives.

Preemptive Nuclear Strike

A strike initiated with the intent to disable an enemy’s nuclear capabilities before they can be used.

Strategic Nuclear Strike

Targeting an opponent's critical military or economic resources to achieve long-term objectives.

Tactical Nuclear Strike

The use of smaller nuclear weapons on the battlefield to gain an advantage in conventional warfare.

Nuclear Strike Authorization Protocols

Procedures followed to ensure that nuclear strikes are carried out in a controlled and authorized manner.

Nuclear Escalation

The process through which a conflict involving nuclear weapons can intensify, increasing the risk of widespread destruction.

Deterrence by Punishment

The strategy of threatening severe retaliation to deter adversaries from launching a nuclear strike.

Nuclear First Strike Policy

A doctrine allowing for the first use of nuclear weapons in response to a perceived existential threat.

Saturation Attack

A military strategy that involves overwhelming an opponent's defenses by launching multiple nuclear strikes.

Limited Nuclear Strike

A nuclear attack that seeks to achieve specific military objectives without escalating to full-scale nuclear war.

Nuclear Weapons Systems

The various platforms and delivery mechanisms through which nuclear weapons can be deployed, including missiles and bombers.

Counterforce Targeting

Strategy focused on destroying an enemy’s nuclear forces and military infrastructure to minimize their retaliation capability.

Survivable Nuclear Forces

Nuclear capabilities designed to remain operational after a first strike, ensuring effective second-strike capability.

Nuclear Strike Consequences

The potential immediate and long-term effects following a nuclear strike, including humanitarian, environmental, and geopolitical impacts.

American Nuclear Strategy

The framework governing the development, deployment, and use of nuclear weapons by the United States.

Strategic Deterrence

A key component of U.S. nuclear strategy aimed at preventing adversaries from aggression through the threat of retaliation.

Nuclear Triad

The combination of land-based missiles, submarine-launched missiles, and strategic bombers that form the backbone of U.S. nuclear deterrence.

Nuclear Command and Control (C2)

Systems and protocols used to authorize and manage nuclear weapons operations.

Flexible Response Strategy

A nuclear strategy allowing for a range of military options to respond to threats, rather than relying solely on massive retaliation.

Global Strike Capability

The ability of the U.S. military to deliver an immediate response to a threat, including conventional and nuclear capabilities.

Nuclear War Plan

Operational plans detailing the U.S. response to potential nuclear engagements with adversaries.

Nuclear Sharing Arrangements

Agreements among NATO allies allowing for the transfer of nuclear weapon capabilities to non-nuclear states under U.S. oversight.

Counterforce Doctrine

A strategy that prioritizes targeting enemy military assets to reduce their ability to retaliate.

Crisis Stability

The state of affairs in which nations avoid conflict escalation during tense situations due to assured retaliation capabilities.

Extended Deterrence

The commitment to use nuclear capabilities to protect allies and deter threats against them.

First Use Doctrine

A policy permitting the initial use of nuclear weapons in a conflict as a perceived necessity to counter immediate threats.

Nuclear Posture Review (NPR)

Periodic assessment by the U.S. of its nuclear strategy, taking into account global security changes and threats.

Assured Deterrence

A strategy designed to ensure potential adversaries believe that a nuclear attack would lead to catastrophic retaliation.

Nuclear Resilience

The capability of a nation's nuclear forces to remain effective after absorbing an initial enemy strike.

Feminist Nuclear Theory

An analysis that explores how gendered perspectives influence nuclear weapons policies and their implications for global security.

Gender and Security

The intersection of gender dynamics and security issues, emphasizing how traditional security narratives often marginalize women's experiences and perspectives.

Critique of Traditional Security Frameworks

Feminist scholarship challenges conventional security concepts that prioritize military solutions over human security.

Nuclear Weapons and Gender

Recognition that the impact of nuclear policies disproportionately affects women and marginalized groups.

Feminist Advocacy for Disarmament

Movements within feminist activism that focus on advocating for nuclear disarmament from a gendered perspective.

Social Justice and Nuclear Policy

A framework that seeks to align nuclear nonproliferation efforts with broader social justice objectives.

Human Security Approach

A perspective that emphasizes protecting individuals' rights and welfare, challenging the state-centric focus of traditional security studies.

Intersectionality in Nuclear Studies

Understanding how various forms of identity (such as gender, class, and race) interact within nuclear policy discourse.