Unparalleled Catastrophe

Life and Death in the Third Nuclear Age

Rhys Crilley

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English

Manchester University Press
01 July 2025

Peace studies & conflict resolution; Armed conflict; Nuclear weapons

This book provides a chronicle of the events that have carried the world into a Third Nuclear Age and an analysis of how it happened. Making the case for critical nuclear studies, it traces the dangers of recent technological and political advances and provides an intervention into debates about nuclear weapons.

After the first use of nuclear weapons in 1945, Albert Einstein warned that 'we thus drift towards unparalleled catastrophe'. Today we are no longer drifting but racing at breakneck speed. This book provides a chronicle of the events that have carried the world into a Third Nuclear Age and an analysis of how it happened. Presenting the case for critical nuclear studies, it traces the dangers of recent technological and political advances and makes an important intervention into debates about nuclear weapons. It also explores how the Third Nuclear Age manifests in our everyday lives, drawing on a diverse range of source materials, including everything from policy documents, military doctrine and news reports to pop songs and social media memes. Today, the human race stands on the brink of catastrophe. This book tells you why and what we can do about it.

By: Rhys Crilley
Imprint: Manchester University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 56mm, Spine: 12mm
Weight: 311g
ISBN: 9781526191298
ISBN 10: 1526191296
Pages: 216
Publication Date: 01 July 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Introduction 1 'We thus drift toward unparalleled catastrophe': a brief history of nuclear weapons 2 'Fire and fury like the world has never seen': understanding the Third Nuclear Age 3 'I got it. I got it. Why don't we nuke them?', August to October 2019 4 'This is a high time for hypersonic missiles', November 2019 to January 2020 5 'The world of post-apocalypse movies', February to April 2020 6 'I can’t breathe', May to July 2020 7 'Money meant for face masks', August to October 2020 8 'A force that would shatter our nation rather than share it', November 2020 to January 2021 Conclusion: it’s not enough to say 'a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought', February 2021 to the present Index -- .

Rhys Crilley is a Research Fellow in Politics at the University of Glasgow.

Reviews for Unparalleled Catastrophe: Life and Death in the Third Nuclear Age

Winner of the ISA Best Book in Science, Technology and Art in International Studies 2025 Award 'This is a timely and excellent book as President Putin lifts a ban on the testing of nuclear weapons and is facing pressure to develop Russia’s nuclear arsenal. This is one of the first books on the Third Nuclear Age and there will be many more. It has additional merit that it is short and rightly concludes that it is not enough to say “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought”. Unless we return to meaningful nuclear negotiations between nuclear weapon states, there will be a war in which nuclear weapons are used.' Lord David Owen, Former Foreign Secretary 'The construction of the Third Nuclear Age rests on language and representations, and this book explores how nuclear weapons are understood by their illustration in a variety of contexts, from official policy documents to pop songs and social media memes... The multidisciplinary approach of this book makes it an essential read for everyone seeking to understand and comprehend the contemporary nuclear politics.' Aleena Saeed, Modern Diplomacy -- .