Wilson and the Bomb

: The politics and economics of British nuclear diplomacy 1964-1970

Abstract

This thesis explores the British government’s approach to international negotiations concerning nuclear weapons during Harold Wilson’s first two terms of office (1964-1970). It focuses on three distinct but interrelated strands of British nuclear diplomacy: ‘hardware solutions’, the sharing of nuclear weapons between states in the form of a multilateral force; ‘software solutions’, non-physical measures of cooperation, such as consultative and planning arrangements, between alliance members; and a global non-proliferation treaty. In looking at how and why these interrelated policies evolved, this thesis considers party, domestic and international influences on decision-making within the government. It pays particular attention to political and economic events, building on existing diplomatic and strategic accounts of the period.

Date of Award	21 Dec 2010
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Aberystwyth University
Supervisor	Len Scott (Supervisor) & Andrew John Priest (Supervisor)