The Nuclear Seduction

The Nuclear Seduction: Why the Arms Race Doesn’t Matter—And What Does presents a provocative challenge to the conventional wisdom surrounding nuclear weapons and global security. The authors argue that the relentless focus on the arms race—the build-up and reduction of nuclear arsenals—misdirects attention from the true drivers of nuclear danger: geopolitical conflicts and superpower interventions. Drawing on historical case studies and rigorous analysis, the book reveals that the number and nature of nuclear weapons have far less impact on global safety than the volatile political and military entanglements of the United States and the Soviet Union, particularly in the Third World. Moving beyond the "weapons paradigm," this groundbreaking work urges readers to consider how superpower actions in regions such as the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Central America perpetuate crises that could escalate into nuclear catastrophe. The book critiques arms control efforts as inadequate distractions and calls for a deeper reckoning with the political strategies that fan the flames of global instability. With a blend of incisive critique and bold insight, The Nuclear Seduction challenges policymakers, activists, and citizens alike to rethink the roots of nuclear peril and focus on the global conflicts that threaten humanity’s future. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1990.