"Whether possessed by a state of non-state actor, the specter of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), and more specifically, nuclear weapons and their associated material, present a significant threat to global security. While many in the international community regard such devices as being a Cold War vestige that have limited impact on global stability, this somewhat skewed assessment cannot be further from the truth ... Additionally, the emerging specter of cyberattack, or a misunderstanding that could potentially evolve into a limited regional nuclear war, would both have dire global ramifications. Overall, the monograph seeks to inform and advance policy debate in ways that support international security, while also filling gaps in the academic analysis of nuclear weapons and non-proliferation, and adding important connective tissue between analytical areas in the IR and historical domains that often remain separate." -- From the introduction.

World War II and the race for the A-bomb -- The cold war: Part A: The nuclear arms race and NSC 68 -- Part B: Reagan, Gorbachev and the end of the cold war -- UN security council nuclear weapon states (NWS) : United Kingdom, France and China -- Non-UN Security Council nuclear weapon states : Israel, India, Pakistan, North Korea (and Iran) -- The global nuclear non-proliferation regime -- The modern era : the post-cold war and beyond -- Biological and chemical weapons, and nuclear terrorism.