SJS7 - French Nuclear Testing in the South Pacific

 Source:
Suter, Keith. "French nuclear testing in the South Pacific." Contemporary Review, vol. 261, no. 1520, 1992, p. 126+.
Global Issues in Context, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=GPS&sw=w&u=hell32414&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA14323384&it=r&asid=caa8b89e779f6d995f58d09267b635a1.
Accessed 24 May 2017

Author credentials:
Keith Suter is the President of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, and he has graduated from the University of Sydney. He has written many books on issues in Oceania and has 78 articles on the GALE database alone.

Summary:
This article detailed the influence of the French nuclear program on the countries of the Pacific, mainly New Zealand and Australia. It described the temporary suspension of the program in 1992, and how many countries reacted positively to this decision. This issue was so important that the French government was taken to court because of complaints filed by Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji.  The author detailed the history of the French nuclear testing program in other parts of the world first, beginning in 1950 in Algeria. He described how the French government came and went in many places, but the nuclear testing wore on. He also explored its effects and roots within politics, especially the differences between French and British nuclear policies. The author lists several events that were related to the testing that caused both positive and negative reactions before concluding that, because of these tests, France has alienated the countries of the South Pacific. If they hope to gain ties with these countries, they must stop the nuclear testing. This relates to concepts talked about in our class, such as the many lasting effects of colonial powers on less powerful countries. This is a theme prevalent in all of history, such as in colonialism or imperialism. Even today, other countries are still experiencing the negative impacts of foreign powers.

Analysis:
The author, Keith Suter, tends to speak in facts and unbiased sentences. However, he uses these facts to draw conclusions toward the end, as evidenced by this article and how he states that the French must stop their nuclear program. All in all, however, the work is mostly neutral and shows very little bias. Much of the writing is undeniable facts, which is a good quality for a scholarly article.