Sidra Hamidi, "After Fission: Recognition and Contestation in the Atomic Age" (Cambridge UP, 2026)

In this episode of The New Books Network, Dr. Miranda Melcher interviews Dr. Sidra Hamidi about her 2026 book, *After Vision: Recognition and Contestation in the Atomic Age*, published by Cambridge University Press. Hamidi challenges the conventional understanding of nuclear status by distinguishing between a state's nuclear capability—its technical ability to produce weapons—and its nuclear status, which is shaped by international recognition, perception, and political contestation. Drawing on archival documents, diplomatic transcripts, and firsthand accounts, she argues that the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) created a historical artifact by freezing nuclear status as of January 1, 1967, leading to ambiguity and strategic manipulation by states like India, Israel, Iran, and North Korea. The book reveals how these nations have navigated their status through instrumental, legal, and identity-based motivations, with India and Israel achieving de facto acceptance despite non-compliance, while Iran and North Korea face persistent international scrutiny due to status anxiety and perceived defiance. Hamidi emphasizes that nuclear politics is not just about weapons but about identity, legitimacy, and power dynamics in global order. She highlights the policy relevance of separating status from capability, citing the 2015 Iran nuclear deal as a rare example of diplomacy addressing status concerns. Her upcoming work explores the evolving discourse around nuclear energy and the science behind subcritical nuclear tests. The episode offers a nuanced, sociological lens on nuclear politics, revealing how perception often shapes reality more than technical capability. Key takeaways include: (1) Nuclear status is not determined solely by capability but by international recognition and political contestation; (2) The 1970 NPT’s 1967 cutoff date created lasting ambiguity in defining nuclear states; (3) States like India and Israel achieved status acceptance through strategic diplomacy and identity framing, while Iran and North Korea remain contested due to status anxiety; (4) Successful nuclear diplomacy, such as the Iran deal, must address status concerns, not just technical limits; (5) The nuclear test is no longer a definitive marker of status, as seen in subcritical experiments and peaceful nuclear explosion rhetoric; (6) Status contestation is driven by identity, legality, and instrumental interests that evolve over time; (7) The international regime is not a simple hierarchy but a contested space where perception shapes power; (8) Future nuclear policy must account for the social and political dimensions of status to avoid escalation.