Nikoline Ridder Christensen:
Atoms for Peace & Pax Americana

The article analyses the American Atoms for Peace policy towards Denmark from 1953 to 1963. From 1955, Denmark received atomic resources, reactors and know-how from USA. It is argued that American economic, political, integrational and security interests intertwined in an attempt to expand "Pax Americana" to Western Europe through an "informal empire". Atoms for Peace was one of the means to establishing this. Particular Danish interests in atomic energy coalesced with American pressure and both pulled in the direction of a Danish atomic energy program. However, American pressure was never strong enough to force through the introduction of nuclear power in Denmark. Danish autonomy in the area was considerate and specific Danish conditions, such as a decentralised energy supply, meant that atomic energy was not in the end considered profitable.