On the Legality of Nuclear Deterrence

Technical Report · Wed Apr 10 00:00:00 EDT 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1557063· OSTI ID:1557063

Highsmith, Newell L. ^[1]

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1. US Dept. of State, Washington, DC (United States). Retired

Since the birth of nuclear weapons in 1945, the morality of nuclear weapons has been debated vigorously and often heatedly. This debate will continue as long as civilian populations are potentially subject to the immediate and long-term horrors of nuclear blast and radioactive fallout; the use of nuclear weapons in the world today would almost certainly constitute a profound moral failure. While fully acknowledging the importance of debating the morality of nuclear weapons, this paper focuses on the legality of nuclear weapons, in particular the legality of nuclear deterrence.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-07NA27344
• OSTI ID: 1557063
• Report Number(s): LLNL-TR--771651; 963283
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION