Nuclear France: New Questions, New Sources, New Findings

This book provides a non-official history of French nuclear policies, addressing the sizing of French nuclear forces, technological assistance to countries with nuclear weapons programs, uranium prospecting, nuclear testing, health effects, and protests. It is based on new questions and sources from France and abroad, challenging official discourse. The chapters show how independent scholarship can advance understanding of nuclear history and politics, using untapped primary sources and new assessments of health consequences. The volume is of interest to scholars and students of history, politics, international relations, military history, war studies, and global governance.

Format: Hardback
Length: 172 pages
Publication date: 13 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book provides the first non-official account of French nuclear policies, delving beyond the binary of nuclear weapons and nuclear energy. It explores various aspects, including the size of France's nuclear forces, technological assistance to countries with nuclear weapons programs, uranium prospecting, nuclear testing, its health effects, and protests against it. Additionally, it addresses plans to prevent and manage accidents in nuclear power plants. Drawing upon new questions and diverse sources from France and abroad, the chapters in this volume showcase the value of independent and interdisciplinary scholarship, free from conflicts of interest, in advancing our understanding of nuclear history and politics.

The book departs from the assumption that official discourse categories and judgments serve as neutral starting points for analysis. Instead, it harnesses untapped primary sources from France, the UK, the US, India, South Africa, and Iran, along with a modern atmospheric particle transport code coupled with historical weather data, open-source information about radioactive debris clouds, and data on the composition and particle sizes of fallout. Furthermore, it incorporates new survey data about French knowledge of and attitudes towards nuclear weapons and nuclear energy.

One of the key findings of the book is that the first generation of French nuclear forces lacked technical credibility, despite relying on external assistance. This lack of credibility was not only recognized by French officials but also by France's allies and adversaries. Moreover, French strategic collaborations associated with nuclear programs extended to India and South Africa, and nuclear safety regulations underwent significant changes after the Cold War, impacting approximately 110,000 people, or 90% of the French population.

Overall, this book offers a rich and nuanced perspective on French nuclear policies, shedding light on various aspects that have been overlooked in official histories. Its interdisciplinary approach and reliance on new sources contribute to a deeper understanding of nuclear history and politics, challenging prevailing narratives and providing valuable insights for policymakers and scholars alike.

Weight: 503g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032582023