Scope

This Research Guide focuses on the proliferation of nuclear energy and nuclear devices, specifically weapons. Issues covered by the sources listed include: disarmament, terrorism, security, science and the responsible and peaceful use of atomic energy, and international treaties and nonproliferation efforts. Sources mainly cover the time beginning at the end of the Cold War, but include some historical information.
See also: Nuclear Waste guide.

Overview

Dictionary of American History
College Library Reference Collection: E 174 D52 2003
Refer to Volume 6, pages 138-144 for "Nuclear Power," "Nuclear Weapons" and treaty information.
Refer to Volume 1, pages 269-272 for "Arms Race and Disarmament."

Encyclopedia of U.S. Foreign Relations
College Library Reference Collection: E 183.7 E53 1997
Refer to Volume 3, pages 283-300 for "Nuclear Nonproliferation" and "Nuclear Weapons and Strategy."

CQ Researcher November 1991 - to date (updated weekly)
Contains weekly reports from Congressional Quarterly that cover the most current and controversial issues. Basic instructions for CQ Researcher

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online 1992 (updated daily)
Britannica Online is a searchable collection of authoritative references, including Britannica's latest encyclopedia articles. Basic instructions for Encyclopædia Britannica Online

Finding Journal and News Articles

Below are links to databases that cover this subject area. The truncation symbol for all of them is an asterisk (*) unless otherwise noted.

Sample searches for databases:

"nuclear proliferation"
"nuclear nonproliferation"
"nuclear weapons" and security
"nuclear weapons" and "international relations"
"nuclear weapons" and "weapons of mass destruction"
"Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty"
"Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty"

The term "nuclear weapons" may be paired with a specific country or geographic region. For example:
"nuclear weapons" and "United States"
"nuclear weapons" and Korea
"nuclear weapons" and "Middle East"

Recommended Databases:

Academic Search 1984 - to date (updated daily)
This library database indexes approximately 3,100 popular magazines and academic journals and provides the full-text articles from approximately 1,000 journals. Basic instructions for Academic Search

CQ Researcher November 1991 - to date (updated weekly)
Contains weekly reports from Congressional Quarterly that cover the most current and controversial issues. Basic instructions for CQ Researcher

Global NewsBank 1996 - to date (updated monthly)
Global NewsBank covers issues and events in Africa, Asia, Europe, the former Soviet Union, Pacific Rim, Central and South America and the Middle East. It is ideal for researching a wide variety of international developments related to politics, economics, science and business. The full-text news articles are from more than 1,500 international sources. Basic instructions for Global NewsBank

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center 1990 - to date (updated daily)
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (OVRC) includes the acclaimed social issues series published by Greenhaven Press, as well as core reference content from other Gale and Macmillan Reference USA sources and provides viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles.

Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS) 1972 - to date (updated quarterly)
Indexes journal articles, books, government documents, statistical compilations, committee reports, directories, serials, reports of public, intergovernmental and private organizations, and most other forms of printed literature from all over the world. The full-text of the articles is not available in the database. Basic instructions for PAIS

Social Sciences Full Text 1983 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes more than 415 scholarly journals in economics, politics, public administration, public health, sociology, criminology, environmental and urban studies, psychology and anthropology. Basic instructions for Social Sciences Full Text

More Databases:

Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe Dates Vary (updated daily)
Contains the full-text articles from U.S. and international newspapers (including the New York Times, June 1980 - to date), as well as some news and business magazines and trade journals. The truncation symbol is an exclamation point (!). Basic instructions for Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe

ProQuest Newspapers Dates Vary (updated weekly)
Indexes articles from 41 national and Wisconsin newspapers; includes full text for most. The truncation symbol is a question mark (?). Basic instructions for ProQuest Newspapers

Readers' Guide Full Text and Retrospective 1890 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 240 popular magazines in a wide range of subject areas. Full-text coverage of 131 titles begins with 1994. Basic instructions for Readers' Guide Full Text

Finding Books

MadCat
Books on nuclear proliferation can be found in MadCat, the UW-Madison library catalog.

Sample keyword searches:

"nuclear proliferation"
"nuclear nonproliferation"
"nuclear warfare"
"nuclear terrorism"
"arms control" and "nuclear weapons" and "united states"
"nuclear weapons" and test?
nuclear and science

Internet Sites

Nuclearfiles.org
http://www.nuclearfiles.org/
Information on nuclear weapons and energy from the 1930s to the present, including documents, statistics, biographies, and photos.

International Atomic Energy Agency
http://www.iaea.org
Includes news, publications and a data center on nuclear science, energy, safety and security.

Inventory of International Nonproliferation Organizations & Regimes
http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/inven/index.htm
Includes information on international and regional organizations, membership information by country, and treaty texts. From the Center for Nonproliferation Studies.

The Internet and the Bomb: A Research Guide to Policy and Information About Nuclear Weapons
http://nrdc.org/nuclear/nuguide/guinx.asp
Internet resources on nuclear weapons, particularly on United States policy and programs. Created by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Other Nuclear Weapons and Waste Reports available at http://nrdc.org/publications/reports.asp#nuclear

Statistics

Statistical Universe 1973 - to date (updated monthly)
Contains the full text of more than 800 U.S. government statistical publications. Lexis-Nexis Statistical Universe is available to UW-Madison registered users.

Organizations

Arms Control Association
http://www.armscontrol.org/
1150 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 620
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 463-8270

Center for Nonproliferation Studies
http://cns.miis.edu/index.htm
460 Pierce Street
Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 647-4154

Nuclear Control Institute
http://www.nci.org/index.htm
1000 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 410
Washington, DC, 20036
Phone: (202) 822-8444

Union of Concerned Scientists
http://www.ucsusa.org/index.cfm
2 Brattle Square
Cambridge, MA 02238-9105
Phone: (617) 547-5552