George Perkovich is Director of the Secure World Program of the W. Alton Jones Foundation and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the International Institute for Strategic Studies. His work has appeared in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, the Washington Post, and other publications.

"One does not have to agree with all of Mr. Perkovich's arguments to recognize that much of what passes as conventional wisdom in international relations today is simply not true. Accordingly, his book is a useful antidote to many of the illusions of our age." - Mackubin Thomas Owens, Washington Times "Meticulously researched and well-written." - The Economist "Perkovich's epic book provides not only one of the most detailed and authoritative accounts of India's nuclear weapon programme but also one of the most cogent constructions of India's nuclear rationale." - W.P.S. Sidhu, Ethnic Conflict Research Digest "Perkovich has written the definitive account of nuclear decision-making in India. At the same time, he makes a major contribution to nonproliferation scholarship in general." - R.A. Strong, Choice "An extraordinary and perhaps definitive account of 50 years of Indian nuclear policymaking." - Foreign Affairs "Essential reading for those concerned with the issue of non-proliferation." - Robert W. Cahn, Nature "The most authoritative and exhaustive account so far of the development of India's nuclear programme since independence. This meticulously researched volume is an outstanding contribution to a subject mired in deliberate misunderstandings." - Gurharpal Singh, Times Higher Education Supplement "No book written in recent times - in fact, at any time since 1947 - on India's nuclear bomb can be compared to George Perkovich's book in its wide coverage, insightful research and sheer objectivity. In all these three departments this book excels beyond measure." - M. V. Kamath, The Daily Mail (India) "Rich, definitive...at all times fair. It is hard to see how it will be superseded." - Lawrence Freedman, Times Literary Supplement

• ACKNOWLEDGMENTSIntroductionONEDeveloping the Technological Base for the Nuclear Option1948-1963TWOThe First Compromise Shift toward a "Peaceful Nuclear Explosive"1964THREEThe Search for Help Abroad and the Emergence of NonproliferationDECEMBER 1964-AUGUST 1965FOURWar and Leadership Transitions at HomeAUGUST 1965-MAY 1966FIVEThe Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Secretly Renewed Work on a Nuclear Explosive1966-1968SIXPolitical Tumult and Inattention to the Nuclear Program1969-1971SEVENIndia Explodes a "Peaceful" Nuclear Device1971- 1974EIGHTThe Nuclear Program Stalls1975-1980NINEMore Robust Nuclear Policy Is Considered1980-1984TENNuclear Capabilities Grow and Policy Ambivalence RemainsNOVEMBER 1984-DECEMBER1987ELEVENThe Nuclear Threat Grows Amid Political Uncertainty1988-1990TWELVEAmerican Nonproliferation Initiatives Flounder1991- 1994THIRTEENIndia Verges on Nuclear Tests1995-MAY 1996FOURTEENIndia Rejects the CTBTJUNE 1996-DECEMBER 1997FIFTEENThe Bombs That Roared1998Conclusion:Exploded illusions of the Nuclear AgeAfterword:January 1999-January 2001APPENDIXIndia's Nuclear InfrastructureNOTESINDEX

George Perkovich is Director of the Secure World Program of the W. Alton Jones Foundation and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the International Institute for Strategic Studies. His work has appeared in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, the Washington Post, and other publications.

"One does not have to agree with all of Mr. Perkovich's arguments to recognize that much of what passes as conventional wisdom in international relations today is simply not true. Accordingly, his book is a useful antidote to many of the illusions of our age." - Mackubin Thomas Owens, Washington Times "Meticulously researched and well-written." - The Economist "Perkovich's epic book provides not only one of the most detailed and authoritative accounts of India's nuclear weapon programme but also one of the most cogent constructions of India's nuclear rationale." - W.P.S. Sidhu, Ethnic Conflict Research Digest "Perkovich has written the definitive account of nuclear decision-making in India. At the same time, he makes a major contribution to nonproliferation scholarship in general." - R.A. Strong, Choice "An extraordinary and perhaps definitive account of 50 years of Indian nuclear policymaking." - Foreign Affairs "Essential reading for those concerned with the issue of non-proliferation." - Robert W. Cahn, Nature "The most authoritative and exhaustive account so far of the development of India's nuclear programme since independence. This meticulously researched volume is an outstanding contribution to a subject mired in deliberate misunderstandings." - Gurharpal Singh, Times Higher Education Supplement "No book written in recent times - in fact, at any time since 1947 - on India's nuclear bomb can be compared to George Perkovich's book in its wide coverage, insightful research and sheer objectivity. In all these three departments this book excels beyond measure." - M. V. Kamath, The Daily Mail (India) "Rich, definitive...at all times fair. It is hard to see how it will be superseded." - Lawrence Freedman, Times Literary Supplement

• ACKNOWLEDGMENTSIntroductionONEDeveloping the Technological Base for the Nuclear Option1948-1963TWOThe First Compromise Shift toward a "Peaceful Nuclear Explosive"1964THREEThe Search for Help Abroad and the Emergence of NonproliferationDECEMBER 1964-AUGUST 1965FOURWar and Leadership Transitions at HomeAUGUST 1965-MAY 1966FIVEThe Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Secretly Renewed Work on a Nuclear Explosive1966-1968SIXPolitical Tumult and Inattention to the Nuclear Program1969-1971SEVENIndia Explodes a "Peaceful" Nuclear Device1971- 1974EIGHTThe Nuclear Program Stalls1975-1980NINEMore Robust Nuclear Policy Is Considered1980-1984TENNuclear Capabilities Grow and Policy Ambivalence RemainsNOVEMBER 1984-DECEMBER1987ELEVENThe Nuclear Threat Grows Amid Political Uncertainty1988-1990TWELVEAmerican Nonproliferation Initiatives Flounder1991- 1994THIRTEENIndia Verges on Nuclear Tests1995-MAY 1996FOURTEENIndia Rejects the CTBTJUNE 1996-DECEMBER 1997FIFTEENThe Bombs That Roared1998Conclusion:Exploded illusions of the Nuclear AgeAfterword:January 1999-January 2001APPENDIXIndia's Nuclear InfrastructureNOTESINDEX

George Perkovich is Director of the Secure World Program of the W. Alton Jones Foundation and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the International Institute for Strategic Studies. His work has appeared in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, the Washington Post, and other publications.

"One does not have to agree with all of Mr. Perkovich's arguments to recognize that much of what passes as conventional wisdom in international relations today is simply not true. Accordingly, his book is a useful antidote to many of the illusions of our age." - Mackubin Thomas Owens, Washington Times "Meticulously researched and well-written." - The Economist "Perkovich's epic book provides not only one of the most detailed and authoritative accounts of India's nuclear weapon programme but also one of the most cogent constructions of India's nuclear rationale." - W.P.S. Sidhu, Ethnic Conflict Research Digest "Perkovich has written the definitive account of nuclear decision-making in India. At the same time, he makes a major contribution to nonproliferation scholarship in general." - R.A. Strong, Choice "An extraordinary and perhaps definitive account of 50 years of Indian nuclear policymaking." - Foreign Affairs "Essential reading for those concerned with the issue of non-proliferation." - Robert W. Cahn, Nature "The most authoritative and exhaustive account so far of the development of India's nuclear programme since independence. This meticulously researched volume is an outstanding contribution to a subject mired in deliberate misunderstandings." - Gurharpal Singh, Times Higher Education Supplement "No book written in recent times - in fact, at any time since 1947 - on India's nuclear bomb can be compared to George Perkovich's book in its wide coverage, insightful research and sheer objectivity. In all these three departments this book excels beyond measure." - M. V. Kamath, The Daily Mail (India) "Rich, definitive...at all times fair. It is hard to see how it will be superseded." - Lawrence Freedman, Times Literary Supplement

• ACKNOWLEDGMENTSIntroductionONEDeveloping the Technological Base for the Nuclear Option1948-1963TWOThe First Compromise Shift toward a "Peaceful Nuclear Explosive"1964THREEThe Search for Help Abroad and the Emergence of NonproliferationDECEMBER 1964-AUGUST 1965FOURWar and Leadership Transitions at HomeAUGUST 1965-MAY 1966FIVEThe Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Secretly Renewed Work on a Nuclear Explosive1966-1968SIXPolitical Tumult and Inattention to the Nuclear Program1969-1971SEVENIndia Explodes a "Peaceful" Nuclear Device1971- 1974EIGHTThe Nuclear Program Stalls1975-1980NINEMore Robust Nuclear Policy Is Considered1980-1984TENNuclear Capabilities Grow and Policy Ambivalence RemainsNOVEMBER 1984-DECEMBER1987ELEVENThe Nuclear Threat Grows Amid Political Uncertainty1988-1990TWELVEAmerican Nonproliferation Initiatives Flounder1991- 1994THIRTEENIndia Verges on Nuclear Tests1995-MAY 1996FOURTEENIndia Rejects the CTBTJUNE 1996-DECEMBER 1997FIFTEENThe Bombs That Roared1998Conclusion:Exploded illusions of the Nuclear AgeAfterword:January 1999-January 2001APPENDIXIndia's Nuclear InfrastructureNOTESINDEX