Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

Module Identifier
IP38920
Module Title
BRITAIN AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Academic Year
2010/2011
Co-ordinator
Dr Kristan D Stoddart
Semester
Semester 1

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 11 x 1 hour
Seminars / Tutorials 5 x 2 hours
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment 1 x 3000 word essay  50%
Semester Exam 2 Hours   Examination  50%
Supplementary Assessment Resit opportunities for this module will be available in the Supplementary examination period each year. Depending on whether the student is resitting for Honours or Pass only, the resit requirements may be an essay plus examination, just the essay or just the examination. The Department writes to all students well before the supplementary examination period to confirm the requirements.  

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Evaluate key debates and issues in the development of British nuclear weapons policy
2. Analyse the development of UK nuclear strategy and its integration with US and NATO war planning.
3. Evaluate the role of nuclear weapons in UK/US relations
4. Assess critiques of British nuclear weapons policy and associated ideas of nuclear deterrence
5. Examine and evaluate the politics of postwar nuclear issues
6. Assess intelligence aspects of nuclear weapons development
7. Analyse British perspectives on and roles in international frameworks to control nuclear weapons (e.g. Limited Test Ban Treaty, Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty)
8. Critically evaluate emerging future options for Britain'r nuclear weapons policy.

Brief description

The module examines British nuclear weapons policy since 1945, including the development and deployment of atomic and thermo-nuclear weapons and their means of delivery. It traces and evaluates British nuclear strategy, including targeting issues, and examines the integration of British strategy with that of the United States and NATO. The ethical, military and economic dimensions of British policy are explored and evaluated. Attitudes and roles of political parties are assessed as are those of anti-nuclear groups. Historical debates about the value of an independent national deterrent are used to explore current and emerging arguments about whether to replace the Trident system

Content

Lectures

Lecture 1: Introduction: Themes and Issues
Lecture 2 : From A-Bomb to H-bomb
Lecture 3 : From Skybolt to Polaris
Lecture 4 : NATO Nuclear Strategy
Lecture 5 : Cruise and Pershing-2
Lecture 6 : Non-nuclear defence
Lecture 7 : Trident
Lecture 8 : Arms Control
Lecture 9 : Replacing Trident
Lecture 10 After the Cold War
Lecture 11 Overview and Revision

Seminars

Seminar 1: Introduction: Challenges of the Nuclear Dawn
Seminar 2: Special Relationship: Crisis and Opportunity
Seminar 3: Independent Deterrent? Polaris
Seminar 4: Second Cold War: Cruise, Pershing-2 and Trident
Seminar 5: Replacing Trident?

Aims

The module seeks to provide additional options of interest to students in strategic studies, military history, intelligence, and politics. It traces and evaluates British nuclear strategy, including targeting issues, and examines the integration of British strategy with that of the United States and NATO. The ethical, military and economic dimensions of British policy are explored and evaluated. The attitudes and roles of political parties are assessed as are those of anti-nuclear groups and coalitions. It is a timely venture as the British government has made clear that the decision on whether to replace Britain's nuclear deterrent is needed soon. Debates about British nuclear weapons are therefore likely to re-emerge in British politics and public life.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Communication Students learn how to present their ideas both verbally and in writing and how to assert themselves to advantage. They will understand the importance of information and clear communication and how to exploit these. They will learn how to use the many sources of information available and how to use the most appropriate form of communication to best advantage. They will learn to be clear and direct about aims and objectives. They will learn to consider only that which is relevant to the topic, focus and objectives of their argument or discussion. Seminars will be run in groups where oral discussion and presentations will form the main medium of teaching and the emphasis throughout the module will be on student participation and communication. This is facilitated by group-role play based on teams operating within and beyond the seminar environment.
Improving own Learning and Performance The module aims to promote self-management but within a context of assistance from both the convener and the fellow students alike. Students will be expected to improve their own learning and performance by undertaking their own research and to exercise their own initiative, including searching for sources, compiling reading lists, and deciding (under guidance) the direction of their essay and presentation topics. Group work is integral to the seminars and provides opportunities or students to reflect individually and collectively on their performance. The need to contribute to the group presentation in seminars and to meet an essay deadline will focus students' attention on the need to manage their time and opportunity resources well.
Information Technology Students will be expected to submit their work in word-processed format. Also, students will be encouraged to search for sources of information on the web, as well as seeking sources through electronic information sources (such as Web of Science and OCLC).
Personal Development and Career planning The discussions in particular will help to develop students' verbal and presentation and team-working skills. Learning about the process of planning an essay and a presentation, framing the parameters of the projects, honing and developing the projects and seeing through to completion will contribute towards their portfolio of transferable skills.
Problem solving Independent project work and problem solving will be one central goal of the module; the submission of an essay will require that the student develops independent research skills as well as problem solving skills. The need to research and prepare seminar presentations will also enable the student to develop independent project skills. The ability of students to solve problems will be developed and assessed by asking them to: adopt differing points of view; organize data and estimate an answer to the problem; consider extreme cases; reason logically; construct theoretical models; consider similar cases; look for patterns; divide issues into smaller problems. A final examination will ensure that an assessment of the student¿s ability to work alone can be undertaken.
Research skills The submission of the essay will reflect the independent research skills of the student. The need to locate appropriate research resources and write up results will also facilitate research skills. Research preparation for a seminar presentation will also enable the student to develop independent project skills. A final examination will ensure that an assessment of the student's ability to work alone can be undertaken.
Subject Specific Skills Students have the opportunity to develop, practice and test a wide range of subject specific skills that help them to understand, conceptualise and evaluate examples and ideas on the module. These subject specific skills include: - Collect and understand a wide range of data relating to the module - Ability to evaluate competing perspectives - Demonstrate subject specific research techniques - Develop the conceptual and practical skills necessary to maintain their own strategic nuclear capability. - Apply a range of methodologies to complex political problems
Team work Seminars will consist in part of small group role-playing activities where students will be obliged to prepare, present and discuss as a group the core issues related to seminar topics. Such class room debates and discussions are a vital component of the module learning experience.

Reading List

General Text
(1990.) European defence co-operation :America, Britain and NATO /edited by Michael Clarke and Rod Hague. Manchester University Press in association with the Fulbright Commission Primo search (2008.) Exploring intelligence archives :enquiries into the secret state /edited by R. Gerald Hughes, Peter Jackson and Len Scott. Routledge Primo search (2006.) The future of Britain's nuclear weapons :experts reframe the debate /edited by Ken Booth, Frank Barnaby. Oxford Research Group Primo search (1999.) The impact of Polaris :the origins of Britain's seaborne nuclear deterrent /edited by J.E. Moore ; with ready help from P.G. La Niece. Richard Netherwood Primo search Aldrich, Richard J. (1998.) Espionage, security, and intelligence in Britain, 1945-1970 /edited by Richard J. Aldrich. Manchester University Press Primo search Andrew, Christopher (June 1992) More Instructions from the Centre:Top Secret Files on KGB Global Operations 1975-1985 Taylor & Francis Group Primo search Andrew, Christopher (July 2000) The Mitrokhin Archive:The KGB in Europe and the West Penguin Books, Limited Primo search Andrew, Christopher (Jan. 2000) The Sword and the ShieldThe Mitrokhin Archive and the Secret History of the KGB Unabridged Blackstone Audio, Incorporated Primo search Andrew, Christopher M. (1993, c1991.) Instructions from the centre :top secret files on KGB foreign operations 1975-1985 /edited by Christopher Andrew and Oleg Gordievsky. New ed. Sceptre Primo search Andrew, Christopher M. (1990.) KGB :the inside story of its foreign operations from Lenin to Gorbachev /Christopher Andrew and Oleg Gordievsky. Hodder & Stoughton Primo search Andrew, Christopher. (1991.) Instructions from the centre :top secret files on KGB foreign operations 1975-1985 /edited by Christopher Andrew and Oleg Gordievsky. Hodder & Stoughton Primo search Arnold, Lorna (June 2001) Britain and the H-Bomb Revised Palgrave Macmillan Primo search Arnold, Lorna. (1987) A very special relationship :British atomic weapon trials in Australia /Lorna Arnold. H.M.S.O. Primo search Arnold, Lorna. (1987.) A very special relationship :British atomic weapon trials in Australia /Lorna Arnold. H.M.S.O. Primo search Arnold, Lorna. (2006.) Britain, Australia and the bomb :the nuclear tests and their aftermath /Lorna Arnold and Mark Smith. 2nd ed. Palgrave Macmillan Primo search Arnold, Lorna. (2006.) Britain, Australia and the bomb :the nuclear tests and their aftermath /Lorna Arnold and Mark Smith. http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0665/2006050312-b.html 2nd ed. Palgrave Arnold, Lorna. (2007.) Windscale 1957 :anatomy of a nuclear accident /Lorna Arnold. 3rd ed. Palgrave Macmillan Primo search Bartlett, C. J. (1992.) Special Relationship :Political History of Anglo-American Relations Since 1945 /C. J. Bartlett. Longman Primo search Bartlett, C. J. (1972.) The long retreat :a short history of British defence policy, 1945-70 /C.J. Bartlett. Macmillan Primo search Baylis, John (1995.) Ambiguity and deterrence :British nuclear strategy, 1945-1964 /John Baylis. Clarendon Primo search Baylis, John (Mar.1984.) Anglo-American defence relations, 1939-1984. Macmillan Primo search Booth, Ken. (1989.) Britain, NATO and nuclear weapons :alternative defence versus alliance reform /Ken Booth and John Baylis. Macmillan Primo search Botti, Timothy J. (1987.) The long wait :the forging of the Anglo-American nuclear alliance, 1945-1958 /Timothy J. Botti. Greenwood Press Primo search Brookes, Andrew J. (1982.) Force V :the history of Britain's airborne deterrent /Andrew Brookes. Jane's Primo search Cathcart, Brian. (1994.) Test of greatness :Britain's struggle for the Atom bomb /Brian Cathcart. Murray Primo search Clark, Ian (1994.) Nuclear diplomacy and the special relationship :Britain's deterrent and America, 1957-1962 /Ian Clark. Do we have copies in the Hugh Owen? Clarendon Press Primo search Clark, Ian (1989.) The British origins of nuclear strategy 1945-1955 /Ian Clark and Nicholas J. Wheeler. Clarendon Primo search Clark, Ian (1989.) The British origins of nuclear strategy 1945-1955 /Ian Clark and Nicholas J. Wheeler. Clarendon Primo search Dumbrell, John (2006.) A special relationship :Anglo-American relations from the Cold War to Iraq /John Dumbrell. 2nd ed. Palgrave Macmillan Primo search Freedman, Lawrence. (2003.) The evolution of nuclear strategy /Lawrence Freedman. 3rd ed. Palgrave Macmillan Primo search Gowing, Margaret (1964.) Britain and atomic energy, 1939-1945 /Margaret Gowing; with an introductory chapter by Kenneth Jay. Macmillan Primo search Gowing, Margaret (1974.) Independence and deterrence :Britain and atomic energy, 1945-1952 /by Margaret Gowing assisted by Lorna Arnold. Vol.1, Policy making. Macmillan [for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority] Primo search Gowing, Margaret (1974.) Independence and deterrence :Britain and atomic energy, 1945-1952 /by Margaret Gowing assisted by Lorna Arnold. Vol.2, Policy execution. Macmillan [for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority] Primo search Gowing, Margaret (1978.) Reflections on atomic energy history /Margaret Gowing. Cambridge University Press Primo search Gowing, Margaret (1988.) The origins of Britain's status as a nuclear power. Oxford Project for Peace Studies Primo search Gowing, Margaret. (1974.) Independence and deterrence :Britain and atomic energy, 1945-1952 /by Margaret Gowing; assisted by Lorna Arnold. Macmillan Primo search Gowing, Margaret. (1988.) The origins of Britain's status as a nuclear power /Margaret Gowing. Oxford Project for Peace Studies Primo search Hennessy, Peter (2007.) Cabinets and the bomb /Peter Hennessy. Published for the British Academy by Oxford University Press Primo search Hennessy, Peter (2007.) Cabinets and the bomb /Peter Hennessy. Published for the British Academy by Oxford University Press Primo search Hennessy, Peter (1997.) Muddling through :power, politics and the quality of government in postwar Britain /Peter Hennessy. Indigo Primo search Hennessy, Peter (1996.) Muddling through :power, politics and the quality of government in postwar Britain /Peter Hennessy. Victor Gollancz Primo search Hennessy, Peter (1996.) Muddling through :power, politics and the quality of government in postwar Britain /Peter Hennessy. Gollancz Primo search Hennessy, Peter (2000.) The Prime Minister :the office and its holders since 1945 /Peter Hennessy. Allen Lane Primo search Hennessy, Peter The Secret State:Preparing for the Worst, 1945-2010 2nd ed. Penguin Books, Limited Primo search Hennessy, Peter (2001, c2000.) The prime minister :the office and its holders since 1945 /Peter Hennessy. New [ed.]. Penguin Primo search Hennessy, Peter (2010.) The secret state :preparing for the worst 1945-2010 /Peter Hennessy. 2nd ed. Penguin Primo search Heuser, Beatrice (1997.) NATO, Britain, France, and the FRG :nuclear strategies and forces for Europe, 1949-2000 /Beatrice Heuser. Can two copies be purchased for the Hugh Owen Library. Macmillan Primo search Kaiser, Karl (April 1988) British-German Defence and Security Cooperation Jane's Information Group, Incorporated Primo search Malone, Peter (1984.) The British nuclear deterrent /Peter Malone. Croom Helm Primo search Malone, Peter (1984.) The British nuclear deterrent /Peter Malone. Croom Helm Primo search McInnes, Colin. (1986.) Trident :the only option? /by Colin McInnes. Brassey's Defence Primo search Menaul, Stewart (1980.) Countdown :Britain's strategic nuclear forces /Stewart Menaul. Hale Primo search Moore, Richard (2001.) The Royal Navy and nuclear weapons /Richard Moore. Frank Cass Primo search Moore, Richard. (2001.) The Royal Navy and nuclear weapons /Richard Moore. Frank Cass Primo search Nailor, Peter (1988.) The Nassau connection :the organisation and management of the British POLARIS project /Peter Nailor. H.M.S.O. Primo search Navias, Martin S. (c1991.) Nuclear weapons and British strategic planning, 1955-1958 /Martin S. Navias. Can a copy be purchased for the Hugh Owen Library Clarendon Primo search Owen, David (2009.) Nuclear papers /David Owen. Liverpool University Press Primo search Pierre, Andrew J. (1972.) Nuclear politics :the British experience with an independent strategic force, 1939-1970 /Andrew J. Pierre. Oxford University Press Primo search Pierre, Andrew J. (1972.) Nuclear politics :the British experience with an independent strategic force, 1939-1970 /Andrew J. Pierre. Oxford University Press Primo search Podvig, Pavel (March 2004) Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces MIT Press Primo search Reynolds, David (2000.) Britannia overruled :British policy and world power in the twentieth century /David Reynolds. 2nd ed. Longman Primo search Reynolds, David (1991.) Britannia overruled :British policy and world power in the twentieth century /David Reynolds. Longman Primo search Reynolds, David (2008.) Summits :six meetings that shaped the twentieth century /David Reynolds. Penguin Primo search Reynolds, David (2007.) Summits :six meetings that shaped the twentieth century /David Reynolds. Allen Lane Primo search Reynolds, David (2008.) Summits :six meetings that shaped the twentieth century /David Reynolds. Penguin Primo search Rhodes, Richard (c1995 (various) Dark sun :the making of the hydrogen bomb /Richard Rhodes. Simon & Schuster Primo search Rhodes, Richard (1995.) Dark sun :the making of the hydrogen bomb /Richard Rhodes. Simon and Schuster Primo search Schrafstetter, Susanna. (2004.) Avoiding Armageddon :Europe, the United States, and the struggle for nuclear nonproliferation, 1945-1970 /Susanna Schrafstetter and Stephen Twigge. Praeger Primo search Simpson, John (1986.) The independent nuclear state :the United States, Britain and the military atom /John Simpson. 2nd ed. Macmillan Primo search Simpson, John. (1983.) The independent nuclear state :the United States, Britain and the military atom /John Simpson. Macmillan Primo search Spinardi, Graham. (1994.) From Polaris to Trident :the development of U.S. Fleet ballistic missile technology /Graham Spinardi. Cambridge University Press Primo search Terriff, Terry. (1995.) The Nixon administration and the making of U.S. nuclear strategy /Terry Terriff. Cornell University Press Primo search Thatcher, Margaret. (1993.) Downing Street Years, 1979-90 :First Volume of the Memoirs of Margaret Thatcher /Margaret Thatcher. De Luxe ed. Harpercollins Primo search Twigge, Stephen. (2000.) Planning Armageddon :Britain, the United States and the command of Western nuclear forces 1945-1964 /Stephen Twigge and Len Scott. Harwood Academic Primo search Wynn, Humphrey. (1994.) The RAF strategic nuclear deterrent forces :their origins, roles and deployment, 1946-1969 ; a documentary history /by Humphrey Wynn. HMSO Primo search Zaloga, Steven J. (Feb. 2002) The Kremlin's Nuclear Sword:The Rise and Fall of Russia's Strategic Nuclear Forces, 1945-2000 Smithsonian Institution Press Primo search Should Be Purchased
Ball, Desmond and Richelson, Jeffrey (eds.) (1986) Strategic Nuclear Targeting Only if cost effective to purchase. Cornell University Press Primo search Cornish, Paul and Mackby Jennifer (eds.) (2008) U.S.-UK Nuclear Cooperation: An Assessment and Future Prospects Centre for Strategic and International Studies Press Primo search Dillon, G.M. (1983) Dependence and Deterrence: Success and Civility in the Anglo-American Special Nuclear Relationship 1962-1982 Only if it's cheap Gower Primo search Freedman, Lawrence (1980) Britain and Nuclear Weapons Papermac Primo search Goodman, Michael (2008) Spying on the Nuclear Bear: Anglo-American Intelligence and the Soviet Bomb Stanford University Press Primo search Grant, Mathew (2009) The British Way in Cold Warfare Hambledon Continuum Primo search Hennessy, Peter (2007) Cabinets and the Bomb Core Text British Academy/Oxford University Press Primo search Heuser B. and O’Neill R. (eds.) (1988) Securing the Peace in Europe, 1945-62 Longman Primo search Mastny V. and Byrne M. (eds.) (2005) A Cardboard Castle? An Inside History of the Warsaw Pact, 1955-1991 Two copies Central European University Press Primo search Simpson, John and Kenyon, Ian (2006) Deterrence and the New Security Environment Only if cost effective to purchase. Routledge Primo search moore, richard (2010) Nuclear Illusion, Nuclear Reality: Britain, the United States and Nuclear Weapons, 1958-1964 Palgrave Primo search Supplementary Text
Melissen, Jan (1993) The Struggle for Nuclear Partnership: Britain, the United States and the Making of an Ambiguous Alliance 1952-1959 Styx Publications Primo search prados, john (1982) The Soviet Estimate: US Intelligence Analysis and Russian Military Strength Dial Press Primo search
Stromseth, Jane E. (1988.) The origins of flexible response :NATO's debate over strategy in the 1960s /Jane E. Stromseth ; foreword by Denis Healey. Macmillan in association with St. Antony's College, Oxford Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6