Since their inception, nuclear weapons have multiplied at an alarming rate, leaving everyone from policymakers
to concerned citizens wondering what it will take to slow, stop, or even reverse their spread. With clarity and
expertise, Joseph Cirincione presents an even-handed look at the history of nuclear proliferation and an optimistic
vision of its future, providing a comprehensive survey of the wide range of critical perspectives.
Cirincione begins with the first atomic discoveries of the 1930s and covers the history of their growth all the
way to current crisis with Iran. He unravels the science, strategy, and politics that have fueled the development
of nuclear stockpiles and increased the chance of a nuclear terrorist attack. He also explains why many nations
choose not to pursue nuclear weapons and pulls from this the outlines of a solution to the world's proliferation
problem: a balance of force and diplomacy, enforcement and engagement that yields a steady decrease in these deadly
arsenals.
Though nuclear weapons have not been used in war since August 1945, there is no guarantee this good fortune will
continue. A unique blend of history, theory, and security analysis, Bomb Scare is an engaging text that not only
supplies the general reader and student with a clear understanding of this issue but also provides a set of tools
policymakers and scholars can use to prevent the cataclysmic consequences of another nuclear attack.