The development of nuclear military strategy and Anglo-American relations, 1939-1958
There was no special governmental partnership between Britain and America during the Second World War in atomic affairs. A recalibration is required that updates and amends the existing historiography in this respect. The wartime atomic relations of those countries were cooperative at the level of science and resources, but rarely that of the state. As soon as it became apparent that fission weaponry would be the main basis of future military power, America decided to gain exclusive control over the weapon. Britain could not replicate American resources and no assistance was offered to it by its conventional ally. America then created its own, closed, nuclear system and well before the 1946 Atomic Energy Act, the event which is typically seen by historians as the explanation of the fracturing of wartime atomic relations. Immediately after 1945 there was insufficient systemic force to create change in the consistent American policy of atomic monopoly. As fusion bombs introduced a new magnitude of risk, and as the nuclear world expanded and deepened, the systemic pressures grew. It was these pressures which forced America to review its security alignment. Science can hold a mirror to changing strategic relationships
Skinner, G.
The development of nuclear military strategy and Anglo-American relations, 1939-1958. There was no special governmental partnership between Britain and America during the Second World War in atomic affairs. A recalibration is required that updates and amends the existing historiography in this respect. The wartime atomic relations of those countries were cooperative at the level of science and resources, but rarely that of the state. As soon as it became apparent that fission weaponry would be the main basis of future military power, America decided to gain exclusive control over the weapon. Britain could not replicate American resources and no assistance was offered to it by its conventional ally. America then created its own, closed, nuclear system and well before the 1946 Atomic Energy Act, the event which is typically seen by historians as the explanation of the fracturing of wartime atomic relations. Immediately after 1945 there was insufficient systemic force to create change in the consistent American policy of atomic monopoly. As fusion bombs introduced a new magnitude of risk, and as the nuclear world expanded and deepened, the systemic pressures grew. It was these pressures which forced America to review its security alignment. Science can hold a mirror to changing strategic relationships
development nuclear military_strategy anglo_american_relation special governmental partnership britain america second_world_war atomic affair require update amend exist_historiography respect wartime atomic relation country cooperative level science resource rarely state soon_become apparent weaponry would main basis future military_power america decide gain exclusive control weapon britain could replicate american resource assistance offer conventional ally america create close nuclear system well atomic energy act event typically see historian explanation fracture wartime atomic relation immediately insufficient systemic force create change consistent american policy atomic monopoly fusion bomb introduce_new magnitude risk nuclear world expand deepen systemic pressure grow pressure force america review security alignment science hold mirror change strategic relationship