Apocalyptic Crimes

Apocalyptic Crimes argues that nuclear weapons pose an apocalyptic threat to humanity, are illegal under international law, and must be abolished. It contends that the use, threat to use, and continued possession of nuclear weapons by any government are state crimes. They are state crimes because they involve actions or omissions by political officials, acting as representatives of the state, that violate specific public international laws. Apocalyptic Crimes advances a criminology of nuclear weapons according to the outline created by famed criminologist Edwin H. Sutherland, who stated that "criminology...includes within its scope the processes of making laws, of breaking laws, and of reacting toward the breaking of laws". Thus, the book first examines the creation of public international laws relevant to nuclear weapons, as well as legal decisions and advisory opinions concerning these laws. Second, historical evidence is presented that these laws have been repeatedly violated by the United States and other nuclear states, and this process of breaking of laws concerning nuclear weapons is described and explained from a sociological perspective. Four sets of actions or omissions are analyzed as nuclear crimes: the use of atomic bombs by the United States against Japan; the threat to use nuclear weapons for deterrence; the threat to use nuclear weapons in specific conflict situations; and the continued possession of these deadly weapons. Finally, these violations have generated specific societal reactions, and these control efforts are examined and their relevance for future actions to prevent nuclear crimes and abolish nuclear weapons are assessed.