The Social Impact of Bomb Destruction

by Fred Charles Iklé

Since we live in the shadow of nuclear warfare, we must face its probable consequences and be prepared to cope with potentially gruesome and large-scale destruction, says author Fred Charles Iklé. Much has been written about the physical and biological effects of nuclear warfare, but the effect of bombing on the functioning of society—on the lives and activities of city dwellers, on the operation of industries, and even on the organization of a nation—has been largely neglected.

This is the first book to deal with the sociological and demographic impact of widespread bomb destruction. The physical effects of nuclear destruction are related to their social consequences, which are ultimately decisive for political and military strategy, as well as civil defense.

Iklé’s findings are based on an extensive analysis of World War II data from Germany, Japan, Poland, and other countries. He also examined many other types of disasters in order to predict the results of nuclear bombing—from medieval plagues to the evacuation in Holland during the floods of 1953. Statistical comparisons show how different degrees of destruction affect cities or nations.

The Social Impact of Bomb Destruction is required reading for all civil defense workers and military personnel, as well as government leaders and civilians who would be informed on the social consequences of bombing—and ways to deal with those consequences.

284 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2014

About the author

Dr. Fred Charles Iklé was a United States Department of Defense official during the presidency of Ronald Reagan who is credited with a key role in increasing U.S. aid to anti-Soviet rebels in the Soviet War in Afghanistan. He successfully proposed and promoted the idea of supplying the rebels with anti-aircraft Stinger missiles, overcoming CIA opposition. Iklé was director for the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency in 1973-1977 and later Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Iklé is a Distinguished Scholar with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Iklé's expertise is in defense and foreign policy; nuclear strategy; and the role of technology in the emerging international order. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the International Institute for Strategic Studies.