Weapon to woe: historiographical debates on the development, use and legacy of the atomic bomb.

Abstract

The debate over the atomic bomb's development and use has persisted for more than 80 years, underscoring its complexity and the enduring controversy it inspires. Engaging with orthodox, revisionist and post-revisionist perspectives, this article provides an overview of the institutional, strategic and ideological factors that led to the development and use of the atomic bomb, as well as the conflicting historical interpretations they generated. The article concludes by examining how the experiences of Hiroshima influenced post-war perspectives on the morality and role of nuclear weapons, highlighting the contrast between scientists who warned against their devastating effects and strategists who sought to incorporate them into the Cold War power struggle.