Atomic Backfires When Nuclear Policies Fail

Abstract: The existential risks posed to the world by nuclear weapons are growing. Efforts to halt nuclear proliferation, manage crises, promote arms control, and build alliances are all considered fundamental to reducing the likelihood of nuclear catastrophe. Yet, no tool is guaranteed to succeed and some may even have unanticipated, counterproductive consequences for international security.

In a field fixated on finding solutions, Atomic Backfires, edited by Stephen Herzog, Giles David Arceneaux, and Ariel F. W. Petrovics, provocatively takes the opposite tack. An impressive group of contributors calls for close scrutiny of “standard operating procedures” in nuclear politics. They warn decision makers, scholars, and students not to lose sight of the drivers and often calamitous effects of failed nuclear policies. The volume’s authors aim to provide insights for navigating the difficult nuclear choices pursued in Washington, D.C., and other capitals around the globe.

Dr. Ariel Petrovics is a Visiting Scholar at the University of Denver’s Korbel School and a research associate at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy. She holds positions as a Non-Resident Fellow with the Quincy Institute and the Center for Global Security Research (CGSR) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Her research examines the effectiveness of foreign policy strategies on nuclear proliferation and international security. Her newest edited volume, Atomic Backfires: Why Nuclear Policies Fail (MIT Press) examines some of the risks for counterproductive consequences in nuclear policies. Other examples of her work can be found in the Journal of Global Security Studies, the Washington Quarterly, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, Texas National Security Review, and Responsible Statecraft, among others.

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