Australia's Nuclear Policy

Michael Clarke is an Associate Professor at the National Security College at the Australian National University (ANU). Stephan Frühling is a Senior Lecturer in the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University (ANU). Andrew O'Neil is a Professor of Political Science and Head of the School of Government and International Relations at Griffith University.

• Contents: Introduction: Australia, nuclear weapons and non-proliferation; Nuclear policy: managing the dual-use challenge of nuclear fission; Exploring Australia’s nuclear options: Second World War to the Whitlam Government (1945-75); Bedding down the NPT: the Fraser Government (1975-83); Nuclear challenges between Washington and Wellington: the Hawke Government (1983-91); New opportunities and new dangers: the Keating Government (1991-96); Great power politics, proliferation and terrorism: the Howard Government (1996-2007); Consensus and stagnation in Australian nuclear policy: the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd Governments (2007-13); Conclusion: Australian nuclear policy in the 20th and 21st century; Bibliography; Index.

’Comprehensive in scope and lucidly written, this is an indispensable source for anyone seeking to understand the evolution of Australian nuclear policy in all its dimensions. There is bound to be dissent from some of its judgments - I, for one, think the authors understate the genuineness and intensity of the Hawke-Keating governments’ commitment to nuclear disarmament, as distinct from just proliferation - but no one interested in these issues can afford not to give it bookshelf pride of place.’ Gareth Evans, Minister for Resources and Energy 1984-87, Foreign Minister 1988-96, Co-Chair International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament 2009 ’This is a wide-ranging work, and will be the unrivalled go-to source for understanding Australia’s approach to nuclear affairs across strategic, political, and economic dimensions. Combining scholarly rigor with keen attentiveness to the policy issues, the authors illuminate Australian nuclear policy - its activism and ambivalence, its consistencies and contradictions, its principles and pitfalls.’ Bates Gill, The University of Sydney, Australia