On the Beach Theme of Warfare

Although World War III is never directly depicted in On the Beach, the ramifications of this conflict hang heavy over the plot of the novel. We actually mean that literally in this case: the number one threat the main characters face is a giant radiation cloud that's heading right toward them from the Northern Hemisphere. As the characters struggle to survive in the wake of the apocalypse, we get a surprisingly realistic account of what it would be like to carry on in the aftermath of the World War III. Spoiler alert: it pretty much sucks.

1. Could a similar war happen today? Why or why not?
2. How does the war psychologically affect the characters of the novel?
3. Could the war have been avoided? Explain.
4. Does the novel suggest that nuclear weapons should be banned? Why or why not?