Power Versus Prudence: Why Nations Forgo Nuclear Weapons Volume 2

This book is quite revolutionary because instead of asking the question why states develop nuclear weapons, T.V. Paul ask why, despite their perceived utility, states choose NOT to develop nuclear weapons. Situated within the realist school of thought, it offers a new way of looking at deterrence in conflict prone regions.

An outstanding book that explains the puzzle of so many technologically-capable countries forbearing nuclear possession. Very few previous studies on this subject have developed a cogent theoretical model as this book does. Paul develops a 'prudential-realist model' which has implications for international relations theory and foreign policy analysis. Extremeley well-written. The case studies reveal new data on the past search for nuclear weapons by countries such as Sweden, Switzerland and Australia.