College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
Date of Last Revision
2026-05-12 06:08:20
Major
Political Science
Honors Course
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Number of Credits
2
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2026
Abstract
This research investigates the paradox of nuclear peace theory: the idea that nuclear weapons, despite their destructive capacity, have contributed to a more stable global order. By tracing the historical development of nuclear arsenals and the strategic logic of deterrence, the project examines whether the post-1945 decline in large-scale wars between superpowers and wartime deaths can be attributed to the threat of mutual annihilation. It also explores the psychological and cultural consequences of this deterrence-based peace, including the normalization of fear and its potential link to desensitization toward violence in younger generations. From Cold War-era school drills to modern apocalyptic media, the paper considers how generations have internalized the logic of survival through threat. Through historical analysis, strategic theory, and cultural reflection, the project asks the question: are we living in a safer world because of nuclear weapons, or merely a quieter one, held hostage by the threat of catastrophe? Additionally, if peace is built on fear, what happens when that fear begins to fade?
Research Sponsor
Dr. David B. Cohen
First Reader
Dr. Kevin Kern
Second Reader
Dr. Ron Gelleny
Honors Faculty Advisor
Dr. Ron Gelleny
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Community Engaged Scholarship
No
Recommended Citation
Schroeder, Nathan H., "Fear, Memory, and Deterrence: Reassessing Nuclear Peace in the 21st Century" (2026). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 2229.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/2229
Included in
American Politics Commons, Comparative Politics Commons, Defense and Security Studies Commons, International Relations Commons, Political Theory Commons, Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies Commons