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International atomic energy agency: Personal reflections
Ann. Nucl. Energy, Vol. 25, No. 10, p. 791, 1998 © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All fights reserved P l h S0306-4549(97)00121-7 Printed in Great Britain 0306-4549/98 $19.00 + 0.00
Pergamon
Book Review:
International Atomic Energy Agency: Personal reflections. IAEA 1997. ISBN 92-0-102497-5 311 pages, hard cover. Price: Austrian Schilling 260.
On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of its foundation, the International Atomic Energy Agency has published two books which summarise its history.
The first, entitled "History of the
IAEA" by D Fisher is also reviewed in this issue of "Annals of Nuclear Energy". The second, which is the subject of the present review, contains the personal recollections of twenty five persons associated at some time with the Agency, and covers a period from the early years to the nineties. The group includes people from technical, managerial and diplomatic backgrounds, from a fair distribution of member countries.
Some interesting insights appear from these recollections.
Behind the public stances of "big
powers" or "blocks", many dedicated, level -headed and competent people got down to the business of running the Agency and helped achieve some of its goals. True co-operation took place within the Agency. The failure to successfully promote nuclear power is also apparent. The inadequacy of safeguards (Iraq, South Africa, North Korea) is dealt with, but in a rather defensive manner. The difficult role of the Director General also transpires from the pages. He is expected to be a man of action, while being carefully watched over by the Member States, each with its own agenda.
The book falls into the category of oral history, and is a useful complement to D Fisher's book. Each contributor was given the freedom of writing from whatever angle he chose.
From a
historian's perspective, this was, no doubt, the way to proceed, and each contributor acquitted himself commendably.
However, the book's appeal will be limited to those associated with the
Agency. Other readers will not be inspired.
D Vande Putte Electrowatt Engineering (UK) Ltd
791
Pergamon
Book Review:
International Atomic Energy Agency: Personal reflections. IAEA 1997. ISBN 92-0-102497-5 311 pages, hard cover. Price: Austrian Schilling 260.
On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of its foundation, the International Atomic Energy Agency has published two books which summarise its history.
The first, entitled "History of the
IAEA" by D Fisher is also reviewed in this issue of "Annals of Nuclear Energy". The second, which is the subject of the present review, contains the personal recollections of twenty five persons associated at some time with the Agency, and covers a period from the early years to the nineties. The group includes people from technical, managerial and diplomatic backgrounds, from a fair distribution of member countries.
Some interesting insights appear from these recollections.
Behind the public stances of "big
powers" or "blocks", many dedicated, level -headed and competent people got down to the business of running the Agency and helped achieve some of its goals. True co-operation took place within the Agency. The failure to successfully promote nuclear power is also apparent. The inadequacy of safeguards (Iraq, South Africa, North Korea) is dealt with, but in a rather defensive manner. The difficult role of the Director General also transpires from the pages. He is expected to be a man of action, while being carefully watched over by the Member States, each with its own agenda.
The book falls into the category of oral history, and is a useful complement to D Fisher's book. Each contributor was given the freedom of writing from whatever angle he chose.
From a
historian's perspective, this was, no doubt, the way to proceed, and each contributor acquitted himself commendably.
However, the book's appeal will be limited to those associated with the
Agency. Other readers will not be inspired.
D Vande Putte Electrowatt Engineering (UK) Ltd
791