Toward A Sociology of Nuclear Weapons

Abstract

This article serves as an introduction to the issue's special feature on Nuclear Threat. The early sociological literature on nuclear war related issues is reviewed and the dearth of sociological work in this area since the early 1960s is documented. A new call for sociological theory and research on the nuclear threat is issued and possible topics are outlined. The paper concludes with a brief review of the papers that make up the special feature. This issue of The Sociological Quarterly contains a section of articles that all deal, in one way or another, with the threat of nuclear war. As the guest editors of this special feature on Nuclear Threat, we feel that it is important to state our position at the outset. We believe that the prevention of nuclear war is the foremost political, social and moral issue of our time. We are strongly and passionately committed to ending the arms race, moving toward world nuclear disarmament, and building a just and lasting peace in the world community. Furthermore, we believe that sociologists have a social responsibility to become involved in the struggle against the nuclear threat. Sociologists must become active participants in the movement to prevent war and the effort to construct a just peace. Faced with this plea many sociologists will rightfully demand to know what, specifically, is being asked of them. How can sociologists contribute to the world peace movement? One answer has come recently from Allen Grimshaw (1983). He argues that sociologists can contribute to the peace movement through: 1) more explicit attention to conflict in all of their teaching and research, and a willingness to identify the implications of their own work for world conflict; 2) teaching and research on world conflict themselves; 3) active involvement in peace action outside the academy, whether in political action or