The British Nuclear Experience

John Baylis is Emeritus Professor at Swansea University, where he was a Pro-Vice Chancellor. During the course of a distinguished career he has published a number of influential volumes, including Ambiguity and Deterrence: British Nuclear Strategy 1945-196 , Alternative Nuclear Futures: The Role of Nuclear Weapons in the Post-Cold-War Era (edited with R O'Neill), The Globalization of World Politics (edited with S Smith and P Owens, fifth edition) and Strategy in the Contemporary World (edited with J Wirtz and C Gray, fourth edition). Kristan Stoddart is Senior Lecturer in International Politics at Aberystwyth University. His publications include Losing an Empire and Finding a Role?, Britain, the United States, NATO, and Nuclear Weapons 1964-1970, and The Sword and the Shield: Britain, the United States, NATO, and Nuclear Weapons 1970-1976.

Introduction ; 1. The Emergence of a Deterrence 'Habit of Mind' ; 2. The Chiefs of Staff, Nuclear Weapons and Global Strategy ; 3. From Atomic Weapons to Thermonuclear Weapons ; 4. Forging the 'Special' Anglo-American Nuclear Relationship ; 5. Polaris, Independence and Interdependence ; 6. The Polaris Improvement Programme and Chevaline ; 7. The Polaris Replacement Debate under Labour ; 8. The Adoption of Trident ; 9. NATO Modernization Plans, SDI and the End of the Cold War ; 10. Trident Replacement/Renewal: From 'New Labour' to the Coalition Government ; Conclusion