"Many Countries Will Have the Bomb: There Will Be Hell": Edoardo Amaldi and the Italian Physicists Committed to Disarmament, Arms Control and Détente

Abstract

The chapter analyzes Edoardo Amaldi's commitment to disarmament and détente in Italy during the Cold War and in particular during the debate about the signing of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Amaldi (1908-1989) can be considered one of the leading Italian scientists involved in the national and international campaign against nuclear proliferation. In the mid-1960s, a strong civil commitment began to emerge among physicists, as they claimed a voice in Italian security policy, in order to increase public opinion's awareness about the dangers of the nuclear age and to promote Italian accession to the NPT. While it is difficult to assess to what extent Italian scientists' efforts in favor of arms control succeeded in influencing Italian politics during the Cold War, their strong involvement in their country's security policy is in itself a relevant issue for the history of the Italian nuclear experience.