The British nuclear experience : the roles of beliefs, culture, and identity / John Baylis and Kristan Stoddart.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Baylis, John, 1946- author.

Stoddart, Kristan, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nuclear weapons--Government policy--Great Britain--History.

Nuclear weapons.

Military policy.

Nuclear weapons--Government policy.

History.

Great Britain--Military policy--20th century.

Great Britain.

Great Britain--History, Military--20th century.

History, Military.

Great Britain--Politics and government--1945-.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

xi, 299 pages ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2015.

Summary:

Based on a detailed analysis of archives and high-level interviews this book looks at the role of beliefs, culture, and identity in the making of British nuclear policy from 1945 through to the present day. This book also examines Britain's nuclear experience by moving away from-traditional interpretations of why states develop and maintain nuclear weapons by adopting a more, contemporary approach to political theory. Traditional mainstream explanations tend to stress the importance of factors such as the 'maximization of power', the pursuit of 'national security interests' and the role of 'structure' in a largely anarchic international .system. This book does not dismiss these approaches, but argues that British experience suggests that focusing on 'beliefs', 'culture', and 'identify' provides a more useful insight and distinctive interpretation into the process of British nuclear decision-making than the more traditional approaches. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 The Emergence of a Deterrence 'Habit of Mind' 16

2 The Chiefs of Staff, Nuclear Weapons, and Global Strategy 42

3 From Atomic Weapons to Thermonuclear Weapons 60

4 Forging the 'Special' Anglo-American Nuclear Relationship 74

5 Polaris, Independence, and Interdependence 97

6 The Polaris Improvement Programme and Chevaline 119

7 The Polaris Replacement Debate under Labour 133

8 The Adoption of Trident 151

9 NATO Modernization Plans, SDI, and the End of the Cold War 170

10 Trident Replacement/Renewal: From 'New Labour' to the Coalition Government 185.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780198702023

0198702027

OCLC:

900506637