Britain, Europe and Civil Nuclear Energy, 1945–62

Description

This book examines the role played by civil nuclear energy in Britain’s relationship with Europe between the end of the Second World War and London’s first application to join the European Communities. Tracing the development of the British nuclear programme as it emerged as a global leader in constructing the world’s first atomic power stations, it analyses how the threat of energy shortages throughout the 1950s presented ministers with a golden opportunity to utilise nuclear cooperation as an instrument to influence the political shape of Europe. Importantly, this book will show how this chance was missed by ministers due to a combination of disorganization and diplomatic pressure, as well as a perennial lack of domestic resources. In so doing, this book joins the long-disconnected historiographies of European integration and nuclear energy to offer a new perspective on both scholarly fields. Front Matter ....Pages i-xix Introduction (Martin Theaker)....Pages 1-24 Britain and the Limits of Atomic Independence, 1945–1953 (Martin Theaker)....Pages 25-66 Britain and ‘Atoms for Peace’, 1953–1955 (Martin Theaker)....Pages 67-101 Finding a Buyer: Atomic Exports, 1953–1957 (Martin Theaker)....Pages 103-137 Diverging Paths: Euratom and the OEEC, 1955–1958 (Martin Theaker)....Pages 139-179 Britain, the United States and Euratom, 1958–1960 (Martin Theaker)....Pages 181-215 Atomic Energy, the Cold War and the EEC, 1960–1962 (Martin Theaker)....Pages 217-251 Conclusion (Martin Theaker)....Pages 253-282 Back Matter ....Pages 283-297