Australia and the Bomb

Right up until 1973, Australia made serious efforts to acquire nuclear weapon and the bomb, but it gave up these attempts once the Asia-Pacific became more stable. We are once again at a critical juncture in the Asia-Pacific, with major powers once again jockeying for power. Nuclear strategy, extended deterrence, and proliferation have risen to the top of the policy agenda in the region, generating sharp debate even in Australia. The historical origins of the Asian nuclear landscape have profound consequences for contemporary policy regarding the causes and consequences of US extended deterrence and proliferation by allies. Based on new archival material from the Australian National Archives and interviews with former and current senior defense officials.

Christine is a Stanton Postdoctoral Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. Previously, she was a visiting fellow at RSIS (NTU), a summer associate at RAND, and a research assistant at IISS-Asia, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, IISS-London, UK, and the French Ministry of Defense. She has published articles, op-eds, and books on Asia-Pacific security and strategic theory.