Ronald C. Kramer's Apocalyptic Crimes makes a historically grounded broad condemnation of nuclear weapons as illegal, elucidates the paradoxes in enforceability of international law, and charts the relationship the United States has had with the morality of war through its century of

In it, a crucial turn of moral understanding is figured to have taken place during WWII in the service of the instrumental logic of power: between the horror and condemnation of Guernica and the self-certainty of total war attitudes towards civilian casualties have shifted. That legacy of justification of force persists, reckless, heedless of empirical fact and concrete danger, outliving the Cold War. Kramer's critique of US imperial logic was on the whole insightful.

And yet I am left with the feeling Kramer's analysis is hampered by Americentrism. To a degree this is an understandable tendency given Apocalyptic Crimes's approach to the subject and Kramer's own background — but I believe it is approach that ultimately detrimental to the understanding of the geopolitical difficulties and existential dilemmas of nuclear disarmament. (As well as providing a framework for action (which sees the role of the US as central) that seems distressingly implausible in a world that seems now on the fast track towards a mistrustful multipolarity.)

Could not finish. Got to 29% was like reading an essay. If I had of known this I would have spent more time on it. This was dry and unfulfilling. I love anything to do with crime but this was a struggle to get through. I did like the idea and this is the right time for it. Maybe I will try this again later.

A prescient and important title written in a way that is easily accessible to all readers. Not an easy or comforting read but a gripping and interesting one nonetheless.

Apocalyptic Crimes by Ronald C. Kramer offers a provocative and timely analysis of the global threat posed by nuclear weapons, framed through the lens of criminology. With the Doomsday Clock set to 90 seconds to midnight—the closest ever to a symbolic apocalypse—Kramer challenges the narrative that nuclear stockpiles act as a deterrent. Instead, he argues that the very possession of these weapons constitutes a criminal act, implicating nations and political leaders in ongoing violations of international law.

This book stands out for its unique criminological approach, dissecting not only the potential devastation of nuclear war but also the harm caused by the persistent threat and rhetoric surrounding these weapons. Kramer’s work encourages readers to question accepted norms about national security and deterrence, offering a roadmap for disarmament and steps to move away from the brink of annihilation. Ideal for readers interested in international law, peace studies, and political science, Apocalyptic Crimes makes a compelling case for urgent political action to prevent a nuclear catastrophe.