Thermonuclear Monarchy: Choosing Between Democracy and Doom

by Elaine Scarry

From one of our leading social thinkers, a compelling case for the elimination of nuclear weapons. During his impeachment proceedings, Richard Nixon boasted, "I can go into my office and pick up the telephone and in twenty-five minutes seventy million people will be dead." Nixon was accurately describing not only his own power but also the power of every American president in the nuclear age. Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon each contemplated using nuclear weapons―Eisenhower twice, Kennedy three times, Johnson once, Nixon four times. Whether later presidents, from Ford to Obama, considered using them we will learn only once their national security papers are released. In this incisive, masterfully argued new book, award-winning social theorist Elaine Scarry demonstrates that the power of one leader to obliterate millions of people with a nuclear weapon―a possibility that remains very real even in the wake of the Cold War―deeply violates our constitutional rights, undermines the social contract, and is fundamentally at odds with the deliberative principles of democracy. According to the Constitution, the decision to go to war requires rigorous testing by both Congress and the citizenry; when a leader can single-handedly decide to deploy a nuclear weapon, we live in a state of “thermonuclear monarchy,” not democracy. The danger of nuclear weapons comes from potential accidents or acquisition by terrorists, hackers, or rogue countries. But the gravest danger comes from the mistaken idea that there exists some case compatible with legitimate governance. There can be no such case. Thermonuclear Monarchy shows the deformation of governance that occurs when a country gains nuclear weapons. In bold and lucid prose, Thermonuclear Monarchy identifies the tools that will enable us to eliminate nuclear weapons and bring the decision for war back into the hands of Congress and the people. Only by doing so can we secure the safety of home populations, foreign populations, and the earth itself.

Genres: Politics, Philosophy, Nonfiction, History

104 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 2013

Reviews

[Jake Whitehouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scholarly, meticulous book about a subject which for reasons I can only describe as absurd we are not talking about - why have we allowed small groups (sometimes individuals) the power to obliterate life as we know it?

Scarry brings up some great points, terrifying facts and asks some good questions. It does however, feel bloated. An odd 40 page review of the Iliad, and the last 2 chapters on consent and emergency thinking felt poorly connected. All chapters could have done with shaving. But the gravity of the book makes it feel (mostly) durable.

My own fault I should have realised how American centric this book was going to be by the title of the first chapter, which was a little difficult to follow as my knowledge of the American constitution is in short supply. I feel she could have made it more accessible and relevant to non-American readers with the first 2 chapters being very Anglo-centric. (In the social contract for instance the Mandate of Heaven feels poignant to this but doesn't get a mention). I suppose Russia, China & Pakistan (?) democracy is not there and having a conversation about it for these countries could be seen as pointless.

Overall a vital topic, but I feel I could have agreed with her points, analysis and themes in half the page count.

[Nick Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoo boy, alright let's see. In all honesty, 3 stars is being generous, but I did think the author presented some unique arguments about nuclear weapons and, more importantly, how they relate to the Constitution. Who would have thought having nukes actually violates the Second Amendment? Elaine Scarry, that's who.
Still, this book is incredibly frustrating. Her arguments regarding a state's ownership of nuclear weapons seem to have come from a place where the MAD Model has never even been considered, let alone understood. It's not a difficult concept, so it's frustrating that it manages to elude Scarry. Also, she has a tendency to venture off course dramatically (such as a 20 page history of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation which had little or no payoff).

Read it if you are: A. really into Constitutional Law; B. really into nuclear weapons; C. her grad student; D. have a lot of free time and low self worth.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart, engaging book about the nuclear age, it's consequences, particularly psychic effects on humans, and how we might end the nuclear age.