Science of the Twilight Empire: British Atomic Diplomacy in the Era of Decolonization

Abstract

This article discusses the British version of the Atoms for Peace campaign between the mid-1950s and the mid-1960s that aimed at maintaining, reorganizing, or strengthening its ties with countries in the traditional Briton sphere of influence as a scientific diplomacy tool for enhancing its soft power. The Conference of Commonwealth Atomic Scientists and the Harwell Reactor School were consistent with this objective. Notably, the United Kingdom prioritized its geopolitical interests in its Atoms for Peace overseas campaign. Desiring to maintain the British influence in the vast region from Ankara to Karachi, the United Kingdom also founded the regional nuclear center attached to the Baghdad Pact (or CENTO in later years). For creating an attractive magnetic force attached to Britain throughout the Middle East, the UK considered a regional nuclear center necessary to demonstrate the power of science and technology in practice.