This course is designed to introduce the historical case studies of critical decision-making over the development and use of nuclear weapons and technology.
Main topics include: the Manhattan Project, atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Cuban missile crisis, nuclear arms race during the Cold War, weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation, North Korean and Iranian nuclear crises, missile defence, arms control & nuclear non-proliferation, and nuclear energy. Some policy issues, such as nuclear arms control and disarmament, nuclear deterrence, nuclear diplomacy and nuclear energy, are also included.
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:
• Acquire the basic concepts and understanding of the topics covered in this course thorough literature reading;
• Develop capabilities of analyzing the historical and current cases of critical decision-making over the development and use of nuclear weapons;
• Demonstrate capabilities of discussing the complexity of specific nuclear policy issues through critical thinking and essay work.
science & technology, technology and security, research & development policy analysis
✔ Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
This course consists of obligatory lectures and seminars, oral presentation of the students' independent research (individually or in group), and final essay.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Introduction | Science and technology and the modern nation-state system |
Class 2 | The Manhattan Project: Developing the Atomic bomb | The Manhattan Project: Developing the Atomic bomb |
Class 3 | Decision-making of the use of the Atomic bomb re-examined | Decision-making of the use of the Atomic bomb re-examined |
Class 4 | Defense Technology Development and the Military-Industrial Complex | |
Class 5 | Nuclear arms race, nuclear deterrence, arms control and nuclear non-proliferation | Nuclear arms race, nuclear deterrence, arms control and nuclear non-proliferation |
Class 6 | New security threats and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction | |
Class 7 | Cutting-edge technology and human beings: From big science to IT, soft power, and nanotechnology | |
Class 8 | Summary and discussion; Oral presentation of the students' independent research |
To be announced. Articles and book chapters off-prints will be distributed via OCW as handouts (supplementary documents).
To be announced. Articles and book chapters off-prints will be distributed via OCW as handouts (supplementary documents).
Active in-class participation (40%)
Oral presentation offering a critical evaluation of assigned readings (30%)
Final essay (30%)
All Welcome!