France's Search for Nuclear Test Sites, 1957-1963 on JSTOR

The Journal of Military History

Description: The Journal of Military History is published quarterly by the Society for Military History, an organization of about 2000 historians and persons with a scholarly interest in military history. The organization (formerly the American Military Institute) was established in 1937, and has published a quarterly journal under various titles since that date. The Journal--published in January, April, July, and October-- includes scholarly articles and book reviews on topics in military history from all chronological periods and geographical areas.

Note: The Journal of Military History has undergone several name changes. It began publication in 1937 as The Journal of the American Military History Foundation, and became The Journal of the American Military Institute in 1939. In 1941 the title was changed to Military Affairs, and in 1989 it became The Journal of Military History.

Coverage: 1989-2007 (Vol. 53, No. 1 - Vol. 71, No. 4)

Moving Wall: 11/01/2007 year (What is the moving wall?)

The "moving wall" represents the time period between the last issue available in JSTOR and the most recently published issue of a journal. Moving walls are generally represented in years. In rare instances, a publisher has elected to have a "zero" moving wall, so their current issues are available in JSTOR shortly after publication.
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Coverage for this title ends with Volume 71, Issue 4, 2007.

ISSN: 08993718

EISSN: 15437795

Subjects: History, History

Abstract

In 1957 the French government was searching for a nuclear testing site. It chose a site in the Sahara desert in Algeria in order to begin testing as soon as possible, but technical and political considerations rendered this solution only temporary. Recently declassified archival sources reveal that France subsequently considered using a South Pacific site, which helps to explain why France sought such tight control over its overseas territories of New Caledonia and French Polynesia. Finally, at the end of 1961, the Moruroa atoll was chosen, but New Caledonia remained an alternate site. The removal by the French government of nationalistic leaders in New Caledonia and French Polynesia between 1958 and 1963 appears to have been motivated by nuclear testing considerations.

France's Search for Nuclear Test Sites, 1957-1963

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Abstract