Atomic Steppe: How Kazakhstan Gave Up the Bomb

Atomic Steppe reveals the untold true story of Kazakhstan's decision to reject the most powerful weapons in human history, becoming a Central Asian North Korea. The book explores Kazakhstan's nuclear history from the Soviet period to the present, highlighting the personal stories of engineers, diplomats, villagers, and activists who worked towards disarmament.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: Stanford University Press

Atomic Steppe is a captivating book that delves into the untold true story of Kazakhstan's remarkable journey in rejecting the most powerful weapons in human history. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, this marginalized Central Asian republic unexpectedly found itself holding the world's fourth-largest nuclear arsenal on its territory. The question on everyone's mind was whether Kazakhstan would surrender these fire-ready weapons or strive to become a Central Asian counterpart of North Korea.

This book takes readers on an extraordinary journey into Kazakhstan's nuclear history, spanning from the Soviet era to the present. For Soviet officials, the vast steppe of Kazakhstan was viewed as an empty patch of dirt, ideal for conducting nuclear tests. However, the consequences of these tests were far from ecological marvels or beloved homelands. The introduction of two-headed lambs was just the beginning of a public health disaster that would plague Kazakhstan for years to come.

When the Soviet Union collapsed, Kazakhstan faced an even more daunting challenge: becoming an overnight nuclear power. This sudden transition placed a heavy burden on the country, as it had to navigate the complex world of disarmament while dealing with the lingering effects of nuclear testing.

Togzhan Kassenova, the author of Atomic Steppe, provides an intimate personal perspective and access to untapped archival resources. Through her storytelling, readers are introduced to a diverse range of individuals who played pivotal roles in shaping Kazakhstan's nuclear destiny. These include engineers turned diplomats, villagers turned activists, and scientists turned pacifists who worked tirelessly towards disarmament.

The story of how Kazakhs gave up their nuclear inheritance holds urgent lessons for global security. With thousands of nuclear weapons still present around the world, it is crucial to understand the factors that influenced Kazakhstan's decision and the strategies employed to achieve disarmament.

Atomic Steppe is a must-read for anyone interested in international relations, nuclear proliferation, and the complex dynamics of global security. It sheds light on the challenges faced by countries in transitioning from nuclear weapons programs and highlights the importance of diplomacy, activism, and peaceful resolution in addressing these complex issues.

Weight: 720g
Dimension: 235 x 157 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781503628465