Britain, Europe and Civil Nuclear Energy, 1945–62 [electronic resource] : Power Politics /
Theaker, Martin.author.
This book examines the role played by civil nuclear energy in Britain’s relationship with Europe between the end of the Second World War and London’s first application to join the European Communities. Tracing the development of the British nuclear programme as it emerged as a global leader in constructing the world’s first atomic power stations, it analyses how the threat of energy shortages throughout the 1950s presented ministers with a golden opportunity to utilise nuclear cooperation as an instrument to influence the political shape of Europe. Importantly, this book will show how this chance was missed by ministers due to a combination of disorganization and diplomatic pressure, as well as a perennial lack of domestic resources. In so doing, this book joins the long-disconnected historiographies of European integration and nuclear energy to offer a new perspective on both scholarly fields.
1: Introduction --  -- 2: Britain and the Limits of Atomic Independence, 1945-53 -- 3: Britain and ‘Atoms for Peace’, 1953-55 -- 4: Finding a Buyer: Atomic Exports, 1953-57 -- 5: Diverging Paths: Euratom and the OEEC, 1955-58 -- 6: Britain, the United States and Euratom, 1958-60 -- 7: Atomic Energy, the Cold War and the EEC, 1960-62 -- 8: Conclusion.
This book examines the role played by civil nuclear energy in Britain’s relationship with Europe between the end of the Second World War and London’s first application to join the European Communities. Tracing the development of the British nuclear programme as it emerged as a global leader in constructing the world’s first atomic power stations, it analyses how the threat of energy shortages throughout the 1950s presented ministers with a golden opportunity to utilise nuclear cooperation as an instrument to influence the political shape of Europe. Importantly, this book will show how this chance was missed by ministers due to a combination of disorganization and diplomatic pressure, as well as a perennial lack of domestic resources. In so doing, this book joins the long-disconnected historiographies of European integration and nuclear energy to offer a new perspective on both scholarly fields.
Great Britain-History.
Europe-History-1492-.
History.
United States-History.
History of Britain and Ireland.
History of Modern Europe.
History of Science.
US History.