John Preston, Apocalypse Capitalism: Economic Visions after Nuclear War – Bristol University Press, September 2026 (print and open access)

Is it easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism? 

Drawing on extensive archival research in the UK and the US, this book uncovers how Cold War planners planned to keep capitalism alive even after a nuclear apocalypse. 

Through scenario planning, US officials anticipated capitalist recovery, while UK strategies prioritised preserving elite power and restoring the class system. 

By tracing these contrasting imaginaries, the book reveals how capitalism is projected beyond the apocalypse and explores alternative economic futures that emerge when the unthinkable is taken seriously.