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Bradford Nuclear Warfare Disarmament Research

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Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation
research at the Department of Peace Studies
 

The Department of Peace Studies has been actively involved in advocacy and research on nuclear weapons, disarmament and proliferation since the 1980s. In the early 1980s, at the time of E. P. Thompson’s national speaking tour that helped kick-start the nuclear disarmament movement, the department ran briefing and training sessions for speakers on nuclear disarmament at Thompson’s suggestion. The department’s staff have since given scores of talks, lectures, evidence to House of Commons committees, and published many articles for academic journals and a range of books.

During the Cold War these included “As Lambs to the Slaughter: the Facts about Nuclear War” (Paul Rogers, 1981) and an accompanying leaflet. The book sold 25,000 copies in six months and made the Sunday Times bestseller list. The pamphlet sold over 250,000. Others include “Nuclear deterrence: Implications and Policy Options for the 1980s” 1982), “The Death of Deterrence” (Malcolm Dando and Paul Rogers, 1984), “Cruise: Europe's Folly” (Owen Green, 1983), “Trident: Britain's independent arms race” (Malcolm Chalmers ,1984), “The command and control of British nuclear weapons” (1986), “Nuclear weapons and British defence policy” (1987).

The department also published Peace Studies Papers including “How Effective are Peace Movements”, “The Nuclear Arms Race” and three editions of “Guide to Nuclear Weapons”.Since the end of the Cold War the department has continued to research issues affecting nuclear weapons and global security. Staff publications have included “The Directory of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Arms and Disarmament” (1990), “The Hidden Cost of Deterrence: Nuclear Weapons Accidents” (Shaun Gregory,1990); “A Violent Peace: Global Security after the Cold War”  (Paul Rogers and Malcolm Dando, 1992); “The role of British Nuclear Weapons after the Cold War” (1995), “Sub-strategic Trident: a Slow Burning Fuse” (Paul Rogers1996),  “Nuclear Command and Control in NATO: Nuclear Weapons Operations and the Strategy of Flexible Response” (1996), “Nuclear Futures: The Role of Nuclear Weapons in Security Policy” (Paul Rogers, 1996), “Uncharted waters: the UK, nuclear weapons and the Scottish question” (Malcolm Chalmers and William Walker, 2001), and “Losing Control: Global Security in the Twenty-First Century” (Paul Rogers, 2002 2nd ed).

The department has also focused on the nuclear competition between India and Pakistan with a series of in-depth reports and publications including “Rethinking Strategic Stability in South Asia” (Shaun Gregory, 2005), “Building Trust and Reducing Risks: Nuclear Confidence Building in South Asia” (2005) and “Nuclear Command and Control in Pakistan” ( Shaun Gregory, 2007 ).

Since the mid-1990s much of this research agenda has been consolidated under the Bradford Disarmament Research Centre, one of five departmental research centres. BDRC has focussed on biological, chemical and nuclear weapons disarmament and proliferation issues. BDRC enjoys an impressive record of strong academic and policy oriented publishing and key website developments in the areas of preventing biological warfare and South Asian strategic stability. Current and future BDRC strategic plans involve capacity-building and development to address wider issues of relevance to the areas of weapons of mass destruction and strategic stability.

The Department of Peace Studies has also recently taken delivery of the extensive library of Professor Joseph Rotblat, recipient of the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize for his work with Pugwash on nuclear disarmament. For further information please see the Department's latest Annual Report .

Nuclear terrorism

Conventional weapons

Biotechnology Regulation

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