The Tradition of Non-Use of Nuclear Weapons
New book and panel discussion will explore reasons no state has
engaged in a nuclear attack since WWII
Many believed the Hiroshima and Nagasaki attacks would usher in a terrifying new nuclear era, yet since then no state has unleashed nuclear weapons. Why is that?
This question is explored in depth in a new book, The Tradition of Non-Use of Nuclear Weapons, by T.V. Paul, Professor of International Relations in the Department of Political Science at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and Co-Director of the McGill--University of Montreal Research Group in International Security (REGIS).
According Paul, the answer lies largely in a prohibition inherent in the tradition of non-use, a time-honored obligation that has been adhered to by all nuclear states—thanks to a consensus view that use would have a catastrophic impact on humankind, the environment, and the reputation of the user.
The book will be launched on Saturday, April 4, from 5:00-6:00 p.m., at the Mount Royal Center, where a roundtable discussion will also be held.
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WHAT: ÌýRoundtable discussion and book launch:
The Tradition of Non-Use of Nuclear Weapons (Stanford
University Press, 2009)
WHO: T. V. Paul (Ï㽶ÊÓƵ)
John M. Clearwater (author)
Richard Ned Lebow (Dartmouth College)
David Welch (University of Toronto)
Desmond Morton (Ï㽶ÊÓƵ)
WHEN: Saturday, April 4, 2009, 5:00 p.m.
WHERE: The Mount Royal Center, 2200 Mansfield
Street.
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