The United Kingdom and the Future of Nuclear Weapons

by Andrew Futter (Editor), Lawrence Sir Freedman (Foreword by)

Overview

This volume provides a study of the current UK nuclear program and related issues that reflect the complexity of the Trident weapons system and the changing nature of deterrence. Presenting the political, cultural, technical, and strategic aspects of Trident it provides a thoughtful overview of the UK’s complex relationship with nuclear weapons.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442265738
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	06/16/2016
Series:	Weapons of Mass Destruction and Emerging Technologies
Pages:	244
Product dimensions:	6.17(w) x 9.33(h) x 0.93(d)

About the Author

Andrew Futter is an Associate Professor at the University of Leicester, UK

Table of Contents

Foreword by Sir Lawrence Freedman Introduction: the Trident debate renewed – Andrew Futter Part I – British nuclear strategy: history and culture 1. 70 years of British nuclear debates: a brief history – Daniel Salisbury 2. The UK nuclear deterrent: a system of systems – David Jarvis 3. UK Trident renewal: antecedents and decision-making – Kristan Stoddart 4. The silence of British nuclear culture – Jon Hogg Part II – Trident renewal: the wider context 5. The heterogeneity of UK military views on nuclear weapons – Henrietta Wilson 6. The Trident renewal decision, the UK and the NPT – Shatabhisha Shetty & Lukasz Kulesa 7. The legality and legitimacy of Trident renewal – William Walker 8. Trident and the special relationship – Heather Williams 9. Dangerous and inhumane: the implications for UK nuclear policy of international strategies to apply humanitarian law and prohibit nuclear weapons - Rebecca Johnson 10. Bairns not bombs: the Scottish anti-nuclear movement and the British nuclear state – Catherine Eschle Part III – Next steps, politics and future challenges 11. Sustaining Trident: nuclear absolutism and nuclear symbolism – Nick Ritchie 12. Next steps in the UK's nuclear warhead programme: what future for the Atomic Weapons Establishment? – Peter Burt 13. The future of political opposition to Trident – Toby Fenwick 14. Future challenges for UK nuclear deterrence – Andrew Futter

Editorial Reviews

The public debate about the future of British nuclear weapons has traditionally been rather superficial and based on largely unexamined prejudices on both sides of the argument. This timely and balanced study from a wide range of experts, with differing views, calls for an open-minded and informed discussion of the subject. It is an excellent contribution to one of the most fundamental questions facing Britain today.

John Baylis

This book, with its contributions from a wide range of knowledgeable individuals, is an invaluable introduction to the complexity surrounding future UK decisions on its nuclear weaponry. Unfortunately many observers may be inclined to simplify the wide ranging political, military, domestic, global, regional, historical, technical, economic, alliance, strategic and normative issues inherent in debating the current and future UK Trident force by focusing their attention on very few of these perspectives. Yet these are decisions that deserve an in-depth and far reaching examination, given that decision-makers are being asked to make decisions which will influence the future of the UK for decades to come. The analyses in this text offer decision-makers and commentators key tools to grapple with the multiple issues relevant to making these future decisions, and should therefore be required reading for those directly involved in making and criticizing them.

John Simpson