| Publication |
2013.
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| Summary/Abstract |
In the latter part of the 20th century, much academic attention has been devoted to the patterns of change in international power relations. From the legacy of imperialism to the end of the Cold War and the rise of American unipolarity, far-reaching geopolitical shifts have dramatically impacted the structure and composition of the international arena. Countries find themselves at the confluence of far-reaching developments such as the rise of supranational organisations, changes in migratory flux and the redistribution of power and influence between nation-states. This fluid and rapidly-changing international environment has provoked profound changes in how nation-states are perceived and perceive themselves. Questions of status and prestige have taken on new significance as shifts in traditional international power relations have challenged the historically-rooted narratives around which national identities are constructed. But how have nation-states responded to these global changes? What has been the effect on national identities? This article will explore the extent to which nuclear weapons policy in France and Russia reflects an attempt to reconcile narratives of national greatness with a gradual loss of influence and status in the international community.
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