Each January, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists adjusts the hands of its Doomsday Clock to signal how close humanity stands to catastrophe. At the end of the Cold War, the clock was set at 17 minutes to midnight. Today, it is at just 89 seconds – its closest-ever setting. 

In this episode of the podcast, George Miller speaks to Patricia Shamai, Principal Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Portsmouth and author of What Are Nuclear Weapons For? They discuss why nuclear weapons have drifted from public consciousness since the 1990s, even as thousands of warheads remain in existence, major powers modernise their arsenals, and new technologies make the strategic picture yet more complex. 

The conversation also touches on Vladimir Putin’s nuclear posture during the war in Ukraine, the challenges posed by strategic ambiguity, and whether – despite all this – there are any grounds for cautious optimism.

Patricia Shamai is Principal Lecturer in International Relations and Associate Head of School in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Portsmouth.

Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-are-nuclear-weapons-for

The transcript is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2025/12/19/podcast-89-seconds-to-midnight-why-we-need-to-rethink-nuclear-weapons-now/

Timestamps:

02:33 - What prompted you to write the book?

08:33 - Did reading testimonies of people who experienced the detonations in Japan in 1945 enhance your understanding or change your perception?

14:01 - Why is the nuclear weapon picture always changing?

23:41 - What is the current climate among nuclear powers more broadly?

28:52 - Are there any signs of hope that we can begin to pull that second hand back from midnight?

Intro music:

Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax

Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com 

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