The US Expert Community’s Role in the Formation of Nuclear Risk Reduction Policy During the Cold War

Abstract

This paper addresses the role of the US expert community in shaping the nuclear risk reduction policy during the Cold War. The authors examines two ways of interaction between experts and the authorities: direct (through the participation of experts in various specialized committees and commissions, preparing analytical reports, and so on) and through communication with the civil society (publication of studies, forming public opinion on nuclear weapons. The authors pay special attention to the role of the Soviet-American expert dialogue in reducing the nuclear risks. The authors also examines the activities of public organizations (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Physicians for Social Responsibility). As a result, the authors conclude that American experts shaped a discussion on the need to prevent nuclear war both within the government structures and civil society and maintained a dialogue with Soviet experts, which impacted nuclear risks perception. In addition, experts were sources of new ideas, which were subsequently put into practice by politicians.