The study examines the full range of effects that nuclear war would have on civilians: direct effects from blast and radiation; and indirect effects from economic, social, and political disruption. Particular attention is devoted to the ways in which the impact of a nuclear war would extend over time. Two of the study’s principal findings are that conditions would continue to get worse for some time after a nuclear war ended, and that the effects of nuclear war that cannot be calculated in advance are at least as important as those which analysts attempt to quantify.
This report provides essential background for a range of issues relating to strategic weapons and foreign policy. It translates what is generally known about the effects of nuclear weapons into the best available estimates about the impact on society if such weapons were used. It calls attention to the very wide range of impacts that nuclear weapons would have on a complex industrial society, and to the extent of uncertainty regarding these impacts.
You'll discover over 150 pages of mock scenarios and other practical information. Maps, diagrams and illustrations all aid in gaining a detailed understanding of the effects a nuclear war would have on society. Specific technical details are included alongside more general concepts. A valuable read presented in an entertaining style.
Topics Covered Regarding the Effects of Nuclear War
- Executive Summary
- A Nuclear Weapon over Detroit or Leningrad: A Tutorial on the Effects of Nuclear Weapons
- Civil Defense
- Three Attack Cases
- Other Long-Term Effects
A List of Appendixes on the Effects of Nuclear War
- Letter From Senate Foreign Relations Committee Requesting the Study
- Strategic Forces Assumed
- Charlottesville: A Fictional Account by Nan Randall
- Summary of Contractor Report on Executive Branch Studies
- Suggestions for Further Reading
