{"id":35523,"date":"2022-11-18T12:27:01","date_gmt":"2022-11-18T12:27:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entropymag.co\/?p=34466"},"modified":"2024-01-11T14:08:09","modified_gmt":"2024-01-11T08:38:09","slug":"what-is-nuclear-anxiety-how-can-nations-deal-with-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entropymag.co\/what-is-nuclear-anxiety-how-can-nations-deal-with-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Nuclear Anxiety? How Can Nations Deal With it?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, fears of a nuclear disaster are back. Some who may have seen the days of the Cold War may attest to how widespread this fear is. With a world in 2022, which is divided by geopolitical tensions, trade wars, and some battling tensions within their own countries, it is completely natural that one may have growing fears of a nuclear attack in their vicinity. It is no secret that world leaders have access to weapons of mass destruction, with some even threatening to use them against an adversary country. This leads to panic and chaos amongst the masses, without any concrete guarantee of safety or peace within their country.\u00a0 So, let’s understand what is nuclear anxiety? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Nuclear Anxiety?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Source<\/a> | What is Nuclear Anxiety<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nuclear anxiety, as the name suggests, is the fear or anxiety of a nuclear attack. It is primarily a phobia that affects people with constant fear and paranoia of nuclear destruction. With the Russia-Ukraine war showing no signs of an end and neither country surrendering, the world, in general, is waiting with bated breath as to how this situation may span out. It is well known that Russia has possession of many nukes, and they won\u2019t hesitate to use them if the situation worsens. On the other end, Ukraine has the moral support of the West and the European powers. None would hesitate to come to Ukraine\u2019s rescue in the event of a full-blown nuclear war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is completely normal for someone living under such circumstances to have nuclear anxiety. Any European would admit that an uncomfortable eerie fear persists throughout the continent. To be living in such close quarters to the war and not have any fear of a nuclear attack is not easy. Several studies<\/a> have indicated that in 2022, even Americans have had the highest levels of nuclear anxiety compared to the past. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the first time, the world has reached these levels of nuclear anxiety post the tumultuous period of the world wars, the Cuban missile crisis, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Origins of Nuclear Anxiety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The world had seen the horrifying effects of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The years following the attack were full of anxiety, fear, and constant paranoia. This was followed by the Cuban Missile crisis in the 1960s, which literally showed the world how two superpowers with nukes when in conflict, could literally bring the world to the brink of nuclear war. This was enough to instill nuclear anxiety among society and a sense of never-ending despair and anxiety. Experts recognized the term \u2018nuclear anxiety\u2019 in the 1980s, and several activist groups protested against concentrating power among world leaders with access to nukes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nuclear Anxiety in 2022<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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It has been established that the beginning of the decade has been in extremely rough conditions. It started with the pandemic, volatility in economies, a war between Russia and Ukraine, and then record inflation. The war has particularly been extremely difficult for all countries. Ukraine will never be the same again, with their country destroyed and millions displaced from their homes. All this is happening with a looming fear of a nuclear attack. Foreign policy experts also cannot give concrete opinions since a lot depends upon a single leader of a powerful country. As a result, nuclear anxiety has shot up to high levels in 2022. Coupled with issues like unemployment, inflation, etc., it has made many people spend these times in utter despair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Impact of Nuclear Anxiety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

 There are several long-lasting effects of nuclear anxiety. Some of them are listed below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n