Social Effects of Nuclear War

Abstract

The effects of thermonuclear wars of varying levels on the population, economy, political organization and certain aspects of the physical environment of the United States were discussed. An attack of 1000 to 2000 megatons on urban targets would have a staggering impact on the major components of the American social system. From the post-World War II recovery experience of Germany and the Soviet Union it is concluded that no reasonable parallel can be drawn between the level of economic disorganization that followed World War II and the effects of a thermonuclear war on the American economy. Further, devastation of vital sectors of the labor force, yet unknown mass ecological effects of radiation, the unpredictable reaction of the surviving population to the holocaust, and the chance that a political order adequate to the challenge would not emerge force us to conclude that recovery of American society would be unlikely. The difficulty of recovery from relatively minor devastation was illustrated with the case of Hiroshima. As was found in the German case, recovery was dependent upon the amount of aid given by surrounding population and American military forces, and the existence of a stable political order. Only if favorable conditions are presentmore » is there evidence that modern interdependent societies are capable of recovery from what would now be called a very limited attack. There is little reason to believe that such favorable conditions would exist in the United States following a thermonuclear war. (auth)« less