British and French Nuclear Forces in the Second Nuclear Age Cover Image

Britské a francouzské nukleární síly ve druhém jaderném věku
British and French Nuclear Forces in the Second Nuclear Age

Author(s): Petr Suchý, Petr Vilímek
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences
Published by: Ústav mezinárodních vztahů
Keywords: nuclear weapons; Great Britain; France; disarmament; deterrence; nuclear proliferation; nuclear abolition

Summary/Abstract: The article outlines the main theoretical models of nuclear proliferation and the motives that are driving states to obtain nuclear weapons. It also focuses on theoretical concepts dealing with variants and alternatives of the future fate of nuclear arsenals and roles played by nuclear weapons. Attention is also paid to the roles of nuclear weapons in the past views of Great Britain and France. The article analyses their motives for joining the nuclear club and also the reasons that led them to keep their nuclear arsenals in the second nuclear age. The authors conclude that these two countries were driven to cross the nuclear threshold not just by security motives, but by other motives as well. Because of the fact that some such motives remain relevant even today, it is rather unlikely to presume that the two states would be willing to abolish their nuclear arsenals in the foreseeable future

  • Issue Year: 44/2009
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 37-65
  • Page Count: 29
  • Language: Czech