Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines antinuclear power movements and their ability to influence policy in case studies of Austrian, French, and German experiences. It argues that the enforcement of the Non-Proliferation Treaty has not been effective and that the delivery of facilities and materials for the peaceful use of nuclear power has placed some countries—e.g., Israel, Brazil, Iraq, and Pakistan—in positions to produce nuclear weapons. The book focuses on peace movements in Europe with case studies of the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, and Austria. It suggests that the composition of the peace movement in the Federal Republic is highly complex and consists of more than a coalition of ecologists, Christians, and leftists. The book shows that the freeze movement has had an impact on US nuclear weapons policy because it has made the public aware of the dangers of these weapons.