What Are Nuclear Weapons For?

by Patricia Shamai

Overview

Peacekeepers, effective deterrent or potential cause of ultimate disaster? Understanding what nuclear weapons are for has never been more essential.

This book traces the history of nuclear weapons from their first use in 1945 when they brought the Second World War to an end, through the Cold War when they gave rise to peace movements and disarmament efforts to the ominous nuclear landscape today.

Shamai shows how nuclear weapons have, to date, been a deterrent by raising the stakes of war and thereby reducing the chances of certain kinds of conflict. But, she warns, this is not a permanent situation – its continuation depends on the world’s reaction to this threat and ongoing vigilance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781529234176
Publisher:	Bristol University Press
Publication date:	11/25/2025
Series:	What Is It For?
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 7.99(h) x (d)

About the Author

Patricia Shamai is Principal Lecturer in International Relations and Associate Head of School in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Portsmouth. Her research addresses the norms associated with nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. She has previously worked with the UK Ministry of Defence, NATO specialists and US government experts to support dialogue and collaboration to address deterrence in a twenty-first-century context.

Table of Contents

Preface

1. Introduction

2. Origins

3. The Cold War

4. Taboos and Stigmas

5. Non-Proliferation, Arms Control and Popular Protest

6. After the Cold War

7. 9/11 and the Nuclear Threat

8. Conclusion

Notes

Further Reading

Editorial Reviews

An accurate history and nuanced analysis of nuclear weapons’ impact on global politics – accessible and insightful for experts and non-experts alike.” Carlotta Minnella, European UniversityInstitute

“Understanding nuclear weapons is absolutely essential if we are to prevent their future use. This book does an excellent job of bringing clarity to an increasingly difficult problem." Andrew Futter, University of Leicester

“Shamai's exhaustive, balanced and timely analysis reminds us that the most destructive weapons ever built may still be what keeps peace alive." Lana Obradovic, University of Nebraska Omaha

“A rich and thought-provoking read on a subject that 80 years on from the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, remains as relevant as ever.” Nicola Leveringhaus, King’s College London

"A must-read for those who research and study deterrence! Patricia Shamai provides us with a detailed historical account of nuclear weapon use and reputation.” Michelle Black, University of Nebraska Omaha

From the Publisher