How the Evolution of American Society Has Made the American Populace Less Likely to Survive Should Nuclear War Occur

Abstract

The “end” of the Cold War along with the technological and societal changes which occurred thereafter within the United States, especially following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 have had an undeniable impact on the likelihood that American citizens and American society as a whole could survive nuclear attacks on the American homeland. While the Cold War required the American populace to face the realities of the potential for nuclear war with the Soviet Union, and potentially the People’s Republic of China, the post-September 11th era required Americans to shift their focus to the realities of the potential for terrorist attacks on American soil. Although this shift in priorities seemed justified following the terrorist attacks at the turn of the millennium and has been further justified by subsequent attacks, both in the United States and abroad, the threat posed by nuclear weapons has not dissipated nor disappeared. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin’s nuclear saber rattling directed towards the West, and the United States in particular, paired with the tensions and conflicts in the Middle East and the reality that Iran could obtain nuclear weapons in an alarmingly short time span, it is clear that the importance and potential threat of nuclear weapons was not relegated to the 20th century. The shift from being concerned about nuclear weapons to being concerned about terrorism was justified. However, in making this transition the American populace and government have neglected to remember the important lessons of the Cold War and the threat that nuclear weapons will pose, for as long as they exist. Thus, it is necessary to better understand how American society has changed since the early days of the Cold War so that it can be understood if America is prepared to survive a nuclear conflict should it occur. The existence of nuclear weapons denotes the possibility of nuclear war and this is an inescapable reality of the world we live in. The nuclear taboo is simply that, a taboo, and there is nothing guaranteeing that nuclear weapons will not be used in any war or conflict, either ongoing or upcoming, if the participants are nuclear powers. The threat of nuclear war has not dissipated with time, yet our readiness for such a catastrophe has.