Nuclear Russia

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In this cultural and political history of the Russian nuclear age, the rise of nuclear physics in the USSR is explored, alongside the fervent pursuit of military and peaceful nuclear programs from the Chernobyl disaster to the Soviet Union's collapse and the current 'renaissance' of nuclear power in Russia. At its peak, the Soviet Union possessed 39,000 nuclear warheads while simultaneously promoting the concept of the 'peaceful atom.' The narrative spans military and peaceful nuclear initiatives across different eras, addressing the political and ideological significance of nuclear technologies, economic ambitions, social and environmental repercussions, and the cultural acceptance of nuclear power. The examination delves into the intersection of scientific and technological history with political, cultural, and environmental contexts, portraying the atom in Russian society as a manifestation of Leninist technological idealism, Cold War strategies, scientific arrogance, public perception, and the state's ambition to dominate nature. Additionally, the book highlights the often-overlooked roles of ethnicity and gender in nuclear history, detailing the impacts of nuclear testing on Kazakhs and Nenets, as well as the unexpected sexualization of the female atom in the contemporary 'Miss Atom' contests.