Crimes of the American Nuclear State at Home and Abroad

by David Kauzlarich, Ronald C. Kramer

Has the United States acted criminally in its development and use of atomic energy and nuclear weapons? The shaping of foreign policy around the threat of nuclear hostility, the subjection of Americans to human radiation experiments, and the massive environmental contamination caused by radioactive waste -- all, say the authors of this provocative book, represent crimes committed by the state under the protective shield of national security.

David Kauzlarich and Ronald C. Kramer present a theoretical and historical framework for understanding these activities, examining the crimes within their organizational and social structural contexts. They also consider the significant role that these weapons of mass destruction have played in world affairs, and explore options for the prevention and control of future nuclear offenses.

This insightful work clearly shows that the threats posed by nuclear states extend far beyond the dangers of nuclear war. The authors argue convincingly that criminologists, government officials, and the general public have for too long avoided and neglected the illegal aspects of nuclear weapons policies in particular, and the larger issue of state crime in general.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published October 29, 1998