When confronted with evidence that the atomic and space ‘races’ of the previous century neither stopped new entrants nor conferred decisive advantages
Seems like a very strange thing to say in a world with so few nuclear weapons. I guess they mean "atomic" in the sense of nuclear power, and the truth that the scientific advantage was slim?
The atomic and space 'races' were advertised to confer decisive geopolitical advantages on the countries that possessed them. Clearly that didn't happen. The Soviets got their bomb four years after the US, and similarly the US caught up with the Soviets in space. Neither enjoyed a decisive advantage.
More importantly, their 'race' didn't prevent others from developing their own bombs and space capabilities.
The atomic and space 'races' were advertised to confer decisive geopolitical advantages on the countries that possessed them. Clearly that didn't happen. The Soviets got their bomb four years after the US, and similarly the US caught up with the Soviets in space. Neither enjoyed a decisive advantage.
More importantly, their 'race' didn't prevent others from developing their own bombs and space capabilities.