The American nuclear disarmament dilemma, 1945-1963
By: David Tal.
Edition: 1st ed.
Series: Syracuse studies on peace and conflict resolution
Publisher: Syracuse University Press; Syracuse Univ Pr (Sd)
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Syracuse, N.Y
Language: eng
Number of pages: 328
ISBN-13: 9780815631668
Subjects: Nuclear disarmament; Cold War; United States -- Foreign relations -- Soviet Union; Soviet Union -- Foreign relations -- United States
Description: "The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 quickly ushered in a popular and political movement toward nuclear disarmament. Across the globe, heads of state, high-ranking ministers, and bureaucrats led intense efforts to achieve effective disarmament agreements. Ultimately these efforts failed. In The American Nuclear Disarmament Dilemma, David Tal offers a detailed analysis of U.S. policy from 1945 to the summer of 1963, exploring the reasons for failure and revealing the complex motivations that eventually led to the Limited Test Ban Treaty." "While previous books have focused on the policies of specific administrations, Tal's is the first to consider negotiations as an evolving phenomenon that preoccupied three presidents, from Truman to Kennedy. Drawing on extensive archival research, the author examines the profound dilemma faced by leaders on all sides - forced by political pressure to engage in negotiations whose success they saw as injurious to national interests. Far from believing that the nuclear arms race would inevitably lead to war, the United States regarded nuclear weapons as the greatest guarantee that war would not happen."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.