Nationalism in the Atomic Age
| Author | Richard A. Preston |
| Published date | 01 September 1956 |
| Date | 01 September 1956 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/002070205601100303 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
NATIONALISM
IN
THE
ATOMIC
AGE
Richard
A.
Preston*
T
is becoming
accepted
as
a
truism
that
man's
advance
in
the
scientific
world
has
so
far
outdistanced
his
competence
in
the
sphere
of
social
organization
that
it
presents a
threat
to
the
continuation
of civilization
and
even
of
human
existence.
This
year,
when a revolution
in
the
tactics
of Soviet
diplomacy
neces-
sitates
a
re-appraisal
of
our
own
attitudes
and
policies,
the
CIIA
appropriately
devoted
its
twenty-third
annual
study
con-
ference
1
to a
study
of
what
is
surely
the
fundamental
problem
of
social
and
political
organization today,
namely
the
continued
existence
of
nationalism
and
the
nation-state
in
the
atomic age.
Nationalism
and
the
nation-state
made
possible,
in
the
course
of
three
or
four
centuries,
the
material,
scientific,
and
cultural
achievements
of
our
own
time.
The
Round Tables
at
the
Con-
ference
were
set
the
task
of
finding
out
whether
these
political
concepts
have
outlived
their
usefulness,
what
signs
of
change*
are
apparent
in
them,
and
how
they
can
be
accommodated
to
the
circumstances
of
the
modern
world.
The
present
signs
of
an
easing
of
the
Cold
War
have
been
accompanied
by
an intensification
of
that
rising
tide of
colonial
unrest
which
followed
World
War
II.
While
Soviet
Communism
is
not
in
every
case
involved,
it
invariably
stands
to
gain.
In
Cyprus
and
in
Algeria,
in
Aden
and in
Singapore,
colonial
peoples
are
on
the
march.
But
newly
established
states
like
Indonesia
and
Burma
appear
to
be
having
difficulty
in
maintaining
their
stability
and
integrity.
In unarmed
Iceland
there
is
a
wave
of
unrest
against
participation
in
NATO.
The
Soviet
policy
of
smiles
has
raised
the
possibility
that
a
relaxation
of
tension
might
lead
to
the
loosening
of
the
NATO
military
alliance;
and
the
three
"Wise
Men"
are
examining
the
possibility
of
bolstering
it
in
non-military spheres.
Soviet
competition
in
the
task
of
extending
aid
to
underdeveloped
countries
in
Africa
and
Asia,
has
set
plans
on
foot
to
attempt
to
co-ordinate
the
various
western
schemes
of aid.
The
UN,
which
for
a
while
competed
*Professor
of
History,
Royal
Military
College of
Canada;
co-author
of
History
of
Warfare,
1956.
1.
The
Conference
was
held
at
the
University
ef
Montreal,
June
9-10,
1956.
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