Nuclear Russia: The Atom in Russian Politics and Culture

Paul Josephson's book,Nuclear Russia, explores the rise of nuclear physics in the USSR, the pursuit of military and peaceful programs, and the ongoing renaissance of nuclear power in Russia in the 21st century. It examines the political and ideological importance of nuclear technologies, the associated economic goals, the social and environmental costs, and the cultural embrace of nuclear power. It also considers the significance of ethnicity and gender in nuclear history, such as the loss of homelands and health due to nuclear testing and the sexualization of the taming of the female atom in the Russian 'Miss Atom contests.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 17 November 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In the captivating first cultural and political history of the Russian nuclear age, Paul Josephson takes us on a journey through the rise of nuclear physics in the Soviet Union, the exhilarating pursuit of military and peaceful nuclear programs, including the tragic Chernobyl disaster, and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union. However, the story doesn't end there. In the 21st century, Russia has embarked on a self-proclaimed "renaissance of nuclear power," marking a new chapter in its nuclear history.

At the peak of their power, the Soviets held an astonishing 39,000 nuclear warheads, yet they proudly proclaimed themselves servants of the "peaceful atom," a pursuit they pursued with great enthusiasm. This book delves into the long-term military and peaceful Soviet and post-Soviet nuclear programs, spanning from before the war to the present day in Russia. It also grapples with the profound political and ideological significance of nuclear technologies, the associated economic goals, the social and environmental costs, and the cultural embrace of nuclear power.

Nuclear Russia is a groundbreaking exploration of the intersection of history, science, technology, politics, and culture. It examines the atom in Russian society as a reflection of Leninist technological utopianism, Cold War imperatives, scientific hubris, public acceptance, and a state desire to conquer nature. Furthermore, the book delves into the vital and perhaps unexpected significance of ethnicity and gender in nuclear history by exploring how Kazakhs and Nenets lost their homelands and their health due to nuclear testing, as well as the surprising sexualization of the taming of the female atom in the Russian "Miss Atom" contests that commenced in the 21st century.

This comprehensive work sheds light on the complex and multifaceted history of nuclear power in Russia, providing a deep understanding of the forces that have shaped its development and impact. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history, politics, and implications of nuclear energy in the world.

Weight: 180g
Dimension: 129 x 196 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350272552