Britain and the bomb : nuclear diplomacy, 1964-1970 / David James Gill.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gill, David James, 1982-

Series:

Stanford Nuclear Age Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nuclear weapons--Government policy--Great Britain--History--20th century.

Nuclear weapons.

Great Britain--Foreign relations--1964-1979.

Great Britain.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (321 p.)

Place of Publication:

Stanford, California : Stanford University Press, 2014.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Drawing on primary sources from both sides of the Atlantic, Britain and the Bomb explores how economic, political, and strategic considerations have shaped British nuclear diplomacy. The book concentrates on Prime Minister Harold Wilson's first two terms of office, 1964-1970, which represent a critical period in international nuclear history. Wilson's commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and his support for continued investment in the British nuclear weapons program, despite serious economic and political challenges, established precedents that still influence policymakers today. The continued independence of Britain's nuclear force, and the enduring absence of a German or European deterrent, certainly owes a debt to Wilson's handling of nuclear diplomacy more than four decades ago. Beyond highlighting the importance of this period, the book explains how and why British nuclear diplomacy evolved during Wilson's leadership. Cabinet discussions, financial crises, and international tensions encouraged a degree of flexibility in the pursuit of strategic independence and the creation of a non-proliferation treaty. Gill shows us that British nuclear diplomacy was a series of compromises, an intricate blend of political, economic, and strategic considerations.

Contents:

Front matter

Contents

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

Introduction

1. A British Bomb

2. The Ambiguities of Opposition

3. Constructing the Atlantic Nuclear Force

4. The Recurring Death of Nuclear Sharing

5. Cooperation as Consultation

6. Proliferation Politics

Conclusion

Epilogue

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780804788588

0804788588

OCLC:

869641238