Understanding the processes of technical change may have general utility in aiding our ability to shape technology to maximize human well-being. In most cases, of course, such a formulation is naïve – all too often one perso's well-being is at the expense of another's – but with nuclear weapons the issue seems quite clear-cut. Preventing nuclear war is an all-important goal for the human race, and one towards which studies of nuclear weapons technology should be able to contribute.

The threat of nuclear war deserves this central focus because of the expected enormity and widespread nature of its consequences. But understanding nuclear weapons technology also has everyday importance, though of a less unique nature. The opportunity costs of developing and building nuclear weapon systems are considerable, whatever the possible alternative uses of resources. Understanding how weapons technology ‘decisions’ come about, and how resources come to be allocated is thus of interest, both to those who wish to improve defence procurement efficiency and to those who would rather devote the resources elsewhere.

As outlined in chapter 2, the relationship between ‘technology’ and ‘society’ can be characterized in various ways. A simple dichotomy exists between explanations which see technology as an autonomous influence on society (technological determinism) and those which see society as shaping technology. In turn the latter view can be grouped into two different kinds of explanation, one based on the domestic processes within a state, and the other on the interaction between states.