Table Of Content‘This path breaking contribution to international theory cuts through tired intel-
lectual divides, offering a creative reconsideration of some familiar intellectual
figures, as well as a fresh look at others unfairly neglected. By means of a bril-
liant exploration of what the authors dub “nuclear realism”, it forces us to rethink
conventional scholarly views about postwar international relations theory and
intellectual history. If you think you have already heard everything one could pos-
sibly hear about realism or nuclear politics, this well-written and carefully crafted
volume will prove you wrong.’
William E. Scheuerman, Professor of Political
Science, Indiana University, USA
‘The history of thinking about nuclear issues has been badly neglected in recent
decades. This innovative and illuminating study demonstrates the value and
importance of reversing that neglect. Filled with historical insights and contem-
porary resonance, this is a significant contribution to the intellectual history of the
twentieth century.’
Michael C. Williams, Graduate School of Public and
International Affairs, University of Ottawa, Canada
‘Nuclear Realism is a timely, and even vital, intervention. Engaging mid-20th
century thinkers who understood immediately that the atomic bomb was not just
a new technology but a fundamental challenge to both humanity and governance,
van Munster and Sylvest underscore the ongoing challenges and dangers of the
nuclear revolution.’
Joseph Masco, Department of Anthropology,
The University of Chicago, USA
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Nuclear Realism
W hat is a realist response to nuclear weapons? This book is animated by the idea
that contemporary attempts to confront the challenge of nuclear weapons and
other global security problems would benefit from richer historical foundations.
R eturning to the decade of deep, thermonuclear anxiety inaugurated in the early
1950s, the authors focus on four creative intellectuals – Günther Anders, John H.
Herz, Lewis Mumford and Bertrand Russell – whose work they reclaim under the
label of ‘nuclear realism’. This book brings out an important, oppositional and
resolutely global strand of political thought that combines realist insights about
nuclear weapons with radical proposals for social and political transformation as
the only escape from a profoundly endangered planet.
Nuclear Realism is a highly original and provocative study that will be of
great use to advanced undergraduates, graduates and scholars of political theory,
International Relations and Cold War history.
Rens van Munster is Senior Researcher and Research Coordinator for Peace, Risk,
and Violence at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS). His most
recent publications include the co-edited volumes D ocumenting World Politics:
A Critical Companion to IR and Non-Fiction Film (Routledge, 2015) and T he
Politics of Globality since 1945 (Routledge, 2016).
Casper Sylvest is Associate Professor of History, University of Southern
Denmark. Combining the study of politics, history, law and technology, his work
examines visions of international and global politics during the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries. He has recently co-edited T he Politics of Globality since 1945
(Routledge, 2016).
The New International Relations
Edited by Richard Little, U niversity of Bristol , Iver B. Neumann,
Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Norway and
Jutta Weldes, U niversity of Bristol .
T he field of international relations has changed dramatically in recent years. This
new series will cover the major issues that have emerged and reflect the latest
academic thinking in this particular dynamic area.
1 International Law, Rights and 7 International Relations, Political
Politics Theory and the Problem of Order
Developments in Eastern Europe Beyond international relations
and the CIS theory?
Rein Mullerson N. J. Rengger
2 The Logic of Internationalism 8 War, Peace and World Orders in
Coercion and accommodation European History
Kjell Goldmann Edited by Anja V. Hartmann
and Beatrice Heuser
3 Russia and the Idea of Europe
A study in identity and 9 European Integration and
international relations National Identity
Iver B. Neumann The challenge of the Nordic states
Edited by Lene Hansen and
4 The Future of International Ole Wæver
Relations
Masters in the making? 10 Shadow Globalization, Ethnic
Edited by Iver B. Neumann Conflicts and New Wars
and Ole Wæver A political economy of intra-state
war
5 Constructing the World Polity Dietrich Jung
Essays on international
institutionalization 11 Contemporary Security Analysis
John Gerard Ruggie and Copenhagen Peace Research
Edited by Stefano Guzzini and
6 Realism in International Dietrich Jung
Relations and International
Political Economy 12 Observing International Relations
The continuing story of a death Niklas Luhmann and world politics
foretold Edited by Mathias Albert and
Stefano Guzzini Lena Hilkermeier
13 Does China Matter? A 22 Liberalism and War
Reassessment The victors and the vanquished
Essays in memory of Gerald Segal Andrew Williams
Edited by Barry Buzan and
Rosemary Foot 23 Constructivism and
International Relations
14 European Approaches to Alexander Wendt and his critics
International Relations Theory Edited by Stefano Guzzini and
A house with many mansions Anna Leander
Jörg Friedrichs
24 Security as Practice
15 The Post-Cold War International Discourse analysis and the
System Bosnian War
Strategies, institutions and Lene Hansen
reflexivity
Ewan Harrison 25 The Politics of Insecurity
Fear, migration and asylum in
16 States of Political Discourse the EU
Words, regimes, seditions Jef Huysmans
Costas M. Constantinou
26 State Sovereignty and
17 The Politics of Regional Identity Intervention
Meddling with the Mediterranean A discourse analysis of
Michelle Pace interventionary and non-
interventionary practices in
18 The Power of International Kosovo and Algeria
Theory Helle Malmvig
Reforging the link to foreign policy-
making through scientific enquiry 27 Culture and Security
Fred Chernoff Symbolic power and the politics
of international security
19 Africa and the North Michael Williams
Between globalization and
marginalization 28 Hegemony & History
Edited by Ulf Engel and Adam Watson
Gorm Rye Olsen
29 Territorial Conflicts in World
20 Communitarian International Society
Relations M odern systems theory, international
The epistemic foundations of relations and conflict studies
international relations Edited by Stephan Stetter
Emanuel Adler
30 Ontological Security in
21 Human Rights and World Trade International Relations
Hunger in international society Self-identity and the IR state
Ana Gonzalez-Pelaez Brent J. Steele
31 The International Politics of 40 Arguing Global Governance
Judicial Intervention Agency, lifeworld and shared
Creating a more just order reasoning
Andrea Birdsall Edited by Corneliu Bjola and
Markus Kornprobst
32 Pragmatism in International
Relations
41 Constructing Global Enemies
Edited by Harry Bauer and
Hegemony and identity in
Elisabetta Brighi
international discourses on
33 Civilization and Empire terrorism and drug prohibition
China and Japan’s encounter with Eva Herschinger
European international society
Shogo Suzuki 42 Alker and IR
Global studies in an interconnected
34 Transforming World Politics
world
From empire to multiple worlds
Edited by Renée Marlin-Bennett
Anna M. Agathangelou and
L.H.M. Ling
43 Sovereignty between Politics
3 5 The Politics of Becoming European and Law
A study of Polish and Baltic post- Tanja Aalberts
Cold War security imaginaries
Maria Mälksoo 44 International Relations and
the First Great Debate
36 Social Power in International
Edited by Brian Schmidt
Politics
Peter Van Ham
45 China in the UN Security
37 International Relations and Council Decision-Making
Identity on Iraq
A dialogical approach Conflicting understandings,
Xavier Guillaume competing preferences
Suzanne Xiao Yang
38 The Puzzle of Politics
Inquiries into the genesis and
46 NATO’s Security Discourse after
transformation of International
the Cold War
Relations
Representing the West
Friedrich Kratochwil
Andreas Behnke
39 The Conduct of Inquiry in
International Relations 47 The Scandinavian International
Philosophy of science and its Society
implications for the study of From Norden to the northern
world politics dimension?
Patrick Thaddeus Jackson Laust Schouenborg
48 Bourdieu in International 57 The Dao of World Politics
Relations Towards a post-Westphalian,
Rethinking key concepts in IR worldist International Relations
Edited by Rebecca Adler-Nissen L.H M. Ling
49 Making Sense, Making Worlds 58 International Orders in the
Constructivism in social theory Early Modern World
and International Relations Before the rise of the West
Nicholas Greenwood Onuf Shogo Suzuki, Yongjin Zhang and
Joel Quirk
50 World of Our Making
Rules and rule in social theory and 59 Emancipatory International
International Relations Relations
Nicholas Greenwood Onuf Critical thinking in International
Relations
51 Maritime Piracy and the Roger D. Spegele
Construction of Global
60 Africa in the Expansion of
Governance
International Society
Edited by Michael J. Struett, Jon
Surrendering the savannah
D. Carlson and Mark T. Nance
John Anthony Pella, Jr.
52 European Integration and
61 Small States and Status Seeking
Postcolonial Sovereignty Games
Iver B. Neumann and Benjamin
The EU overseas countries and
de Carvalho
territories
Edited by Rebecca Adler-Nissen 62 Critical Security Methods
and Ulrik Pram Gad New frameworks for analysis
Claudia Aradau, Jef Huysmans,
53 Power, Realism and
Andrew Neal and Nadine Voelkner
Constructivism
Stefano Guzzini 63 The International Political
Sociology of Security
54 Justice, Order and Anarchy Rethinking theory and practice
The international political theory Trine Villumsen Berling
of Pierre-Joseph Proudhon
Alex Prichard 64 Reflexivity and International
Relations
55 War in International Society Positionality, critique, and practice
Lacy Pejcinovic Jack L. Amoureux and Brent
J. Steele
56 The United States and Great
Power Responsibility in 65 A Practice of Ethics for Global
International Society Politics
Drones, rendition and invasion Ethical reflexivity
Wali Aslam Jack L. Amoureux
66 The Conduct of Inquiry in 67 Nuclear Realism
International Relations, Global political thought during
2nd Edition the thermonuclear revolution
Philosophy of science and its Rens van Munster and
implications for the study of Casper Sylvest
world politics
Patrick Thaddeus Jackson
Nuclear Realism
Global political thought during
the thermonuclear revolution
Rens van Munster and Casper Sylvest
