Journal Article - Quarterly Journal: International Security

Death Dust: The Little-Known Story of U.S. and Soviet Pursuit of Radiological Weapons

    Authors:
  • Samuel Meyer
  • Sarah Bidgood
  • William C. Potter
| Fall 2020

Summary

The pursuit of radiological weapons by states has received little scholarly attention. Yet several countries, most prominently the United States and the Soviet Union, developed and tested these weapons before ultimately abandoning their programs. A comparative analysis of these underexplored programs identifies the drivers behind their rise and demise. The findings also illuminate the factors likely to affect the pursuit of radiological weapons by other states in the future.

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For more information on this publication: Belfer Communications Office
For Academic Citation:

Samuel Meyer, Sarah Bidgood, and William C. Potter, "Death Dust: The Little-Known Story of U.S. and Soviet Pursuit of Radiological Weapons," International Security, Vol. 45, No. 2 (Fall 2020), pp. 51-94, doi.org/10.1162/isec_a_00391.

The Authors

Samuel Meyer

Sarah Bidgood

William C. Potter

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