Public Health as a Security Strategy: A Critique of Three Seminal Books on Nuclear Threats amid Escalating Global Crises

Year 2025, Volume: 21 Issue: 50, 131 - 139, 23.04.2025

Verda Tunalıgil

https://doi.org/10.17752/guvenlikstrtj.1597629

Abstract

This book critique analyzes three seminal works on nuclear threats and public health strategies, and elucidates the urgent need for comprehensive preparedness in response to the growing risks of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear threats. The selected books, “The Medical Effects of Nuclear War,” “Exploring Medical and Public Health Preparedness for a Nuclear Incident,” “Nuclear Law: The Global Debate” address critical aspects of nuclear threats from medical, public health, and policy perspectives. The catastrophic consequences of nuclear conflict for health and the environment, the preparedness of medical systems, and the policy frameworks governing nuclear safety are discussed. The critique marks the importance of international cooperation as critical in managing nuclear risks, and draws attention to the urgency for coordinated efforts at local, national, and international levels. It emphasizes the significance of health systems being prepared to handle radiation injuries and the long-term effects of nuclear incidents. The article additionally reviews the role of legal frameworks, such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty, in preventing nuclear escalation. Global nuclear disarmament, improved public health preparedness, and strong policies to mitigate the devastating consequences of nuclear conflict are strongly advocated.

Keywords

global health impact, medical response to nuclear emergencies, geopolitical conflicts and warfare, international policy on nuclear safety, nuclear conflict preparedness and crisis management

Ethical Statement

N/A

Public Health as a Security Strategy: A Critique of Three Seminal Books on Nuclear Threats amid Escalating Global Crises

Abstract

Öz Bu kitap eleştirisi, nükleer tehditler ve halk sağlığı stratejileri üzerine yazılmış üç temel eseri, karşılaştırmalı olarak analiz etmektedir. Eserler, kimyasal, biyolojik, radyolojik, nükleer tehditlerden kaynaklanan, artan risklere karşı kapsamlı hazırlığın, acil bir ihtiyaç olduğunu vurgulamaktadır. “The Medical Effects of Nuclear War (Nükleer Savaşın Tıbbi Etkileri),” “Exploring Medical and Public Health Preparedness for a Nuclear Incident (Nükleer Olay Tıbbi ve Halk Sağlığı Hazırlığı),” “Nuclear Law: The Global Debate (Nükleer Hukuk: Küresel Tartışma),” adlı çalışmalar, nükleer tehditlere dair tıbbi, halk sağlığı ve politika bakış açılarıyla kritik hususları incelemektedir. Nükleer çatışmaların sağlık ve çevre üzerindeki yıkıcı etkileri, buna karşılık tıbbi sistemlerin hazırlıklı olmalarının önemi, nükleer güvenliği denetleyen düzenleme ve politikaların geliştirilmesi konuları ele alınmaktadır. İncelemede, nükleer riskleri yönetebilmek amacıyla, uluslararası iş birliğinin önemine değinilmektedir. Yerel, ulusal ve uluslararası düzeyde koordineli çabaların gerekliliği ortaya konulmaktadır. Sağlık sistemlerinin radyasyon yaralanmalarını ve nükleer olayların uzun vadeli etkilerini yönetmeye yönelik hazırlıklı olmasının hayati rolü vurgulanmaktadır. Nükleer Silahların Yayılmasının Önlenmesi Anlaşması gibi hukuki çerçevelerin, nükleer tırmanışı önlemedeki rolü değerlendirilmektedir. Önemle savunulması gereken başlıklar arasında, küresel nükleer silahsızlanma, gelişmiş halk sağlığı önlemleri ve nükleer çatışmanın yıkıcı etkilerini hafifletmek için etkili politikaların geliştirilmesine dikkat çekilmektedir.

Keywords

küresel sağlık etkisi, nükleer acil durumlara tıbbi yanıt, jeopolitik gerilimler ve savaşlar, uluslararası nükleer güvenlik politikaları, nükleer çatışmaya hazırlık ve kriz yönetimi

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