Journalist Sarah Scoles discusses the evolving nuclear threats in the 21st century, including modernization programs and radiological terrorism fears. She also explores the historical impact of nuclear deterrence, challenges of secrecy, and the necessity for transparency in nuclear programs.
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Quick takeaways
Increased competition in nuclear arms race among powerful nations
Debate over the effectiveness of nuclear deterrence in preventing nuclear conflicts
Deep dives
The Changing Nuclear Threats
The podcast discusses how the nuclear threats of the 21st century are different from those during the Cold War. With nine countries possessing nuclear weapons, there is now increased competition between powerful nations, concerns about smaller countries obtaining nuclear weapons, and fears of radiological terrorism. Many experts believe that the risk of a nuclear catastrophe is as high as it has ever been.
The Uncertainty of Nuclear Deterrence
The podcast explores the concept of nuclear deterrence and questions its effectiveness in keeping the world safe. While the idea behind nuclear deterrence is that countries won't attack each other with nuclear weapons due to the fear of retaliation, there is no guarantee that deterrence will continue to work in the future. Some argue that the reliance on nuclear weapons is merely preparation for a much bigger problem, while others believe that without transparency and public understanding, nuclear secrecy breeds conspiracy theories and limits informed debate.
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Evolving Nuclear Threats in the 21st Century and US Nuclear Complex Makeover
In an alarming new book "Countdown: The Blinding Future of Nuclear Weapons," journalist Sarah Scoles explores the current state of the nuclear arms race.
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