Introduction

Nuclear weapons pose persistent threats to human societies and ecosystems. In theory, all the world's states agree that humanity must take down this sword of Damocles before it at some point comes crashing down. Since the 1960s, when the goal of nuclear abolition was enshrined in international law, an expansive network of international institutions has been established to further the cause of global nuclear zero. How has this institutional architecture evolved over time? And does it actually serve its purpose? Identifying three successive waves of institutional contestation and change in the history of multilateral nuclear disarmament governance, this book offers a detailed account of the diplomatic pursuit of nuclear abolition. This is a story of broken promises, creative diplomatic tricks, and clashing visions of the past, future, justice, and security. It is also a tale of how the many small have sought to bind the powerful few – and of how the powerful few have legitimated their power and privileges vis-à-vis the many small. This introduction provides a broad overview of the book's central themes and arguments.