Controling The Spread Of Nuclear Weapons

919 words - 4 pages

Controlling both the horizontal and vertical spread of nuclear weapons has always been a subject of international concern since nuclear weapons began being developed in the early 20th century. There are three main types of weapons of mass destruction: chemical, biological, and nuclear. Although all three types may be proliferated and present a serious threat to international security, the focus is placed on nuclear weapons because of their enormous destructive capacity. In today’s modern international system, the concern is centered on the spread of nuclear weapons to international terrorist organizations and unpredictable rogue states. If actors such as these were to acquire nuclear weapons, the damage that they could potentially enact on the world would be detrimental. As a result, many efforts have been made by the countries that already possess nuclear capabilities to reduce and eliminate nuclear weapons elsewhere.
Treaties such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaties I and II, and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty were some of the first major building blocks of the arms control and disarmament regime, particularly concerning nuclear proliferation. This regime was initially put in place by the world’s major powers as an effort to maintain the status quo and have only 5 countries with nuclear weapons. This exclusionary attitude can still be seen in the actions of the “nuclear club” of countries that already possess nuclear weapons. This nuclear club, which currently consists of the U.S.A., Russia, China, the U.K., France, India, Pakistan, and Israel, is constantly trying to confront what is known as the “N+1” problem. The “N” represents the number of states that currently possess nuclear weapons, while the “+1” represents the addition of new states to the nuclear club. The dynamic between these two groups is extremely complicated because each side has a completely different perspective on the situation. This makes non-proliferation difficult to achieve because neither side is willing to consider the perspective side of the other.
A NPT Review Conference was held in 2000 to strengthen the provisions put in place by the NPT in 1968, and multiple proposals for further nuclear non-proliferation were made. One proposal was the development of a Model Additional Protocol, which would empower the International Atomic Energy Agency to conduct more widespread inspections, including unannounced and short notice inspections. This would increase the effectiveness of verification efforts and better ensure that a state is not violating its NPT obligations.
A second proposal was to oppose the transfer of nuclear materials to states outside of the NPT. This would limit their ability to construct a nuclear weapon, but it would also limit their abilities to construct peaceful nuclear fuel cycles that are used as an alternative to environmentally unsound...

The Causes And Effects Of Nuclear Weapons

1738 words - 7 pages The Effects of Nuclear Weapons During the Cold War Nuclear Weapons played a prime factor in the rise of the Cold War and ultimately our lives today. Some say the Cold War started during the Bolshevik revolution in 1917 (Kennan 36). Others say it was when Russia dropped its first atomic bomb. Though most believe that it started after the United States and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics were no longer allies after World War II.Causes

Disarmament of Nuclear Weapons Essay

1387 words - 6 pages Have you ever felt like nuclear weapons were always a useless and dangerous invention by the human race. Around the world, nuclear war heads are becoming more and more common throughout many countries, when are people going to become more aware and cautious of the problems we face with these useless inventions. Without abolition, there is always the danger that nuclear weapons will proliferate, that more and more countries will obtain them

The Danger of Nuclear Weapons v. The Necessity of Nuclear Weapons

948 words - 4 pages Nuclear weapons continue to present a real threat to humanity and other life on Earth. Scholars of international relations and policymakers share in the belief that the sheer power and destructiveness of nuclear weapons prevent them from being used by friends and foes alike. Then the real question becomes; what is the need for nuclear weapons? Nuclear weapons are defined as, volatile device that originates its destructive force from nuclear

A History of Nuclear Weapons

1404 words - 6 pages . and Soviet Union produce new nuclear weapons. Hardly a year later came the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT, that limited the spread of nuclear weapons by keeping an eye on all other countries that hoped to create nuclear weapons. These treaties helped for some years until the late 70’s when both sides continued to produce nuclear weapons at an increased rate. (“Nuclear Warfare”) In the June of 1979 Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev signed

A Proposal for the International Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

1729 words - 7 pages . The NPT has had limited success to prevent the increase and spread of nuclear weapons. The responsibility for nuclear disarmament has not seen full implementation. Hence, the NWC is under threat. In the long run, a possible nuclear conflict may only be prevented by a global practice to ban nuclear weapons. The NWC may be a way to enforce the ban on Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). However, there is the challenge of making such a ban

The Impact of Limiting Nuclear Weapons during The Cold War

1846 words - 7 pages What was the Effect of Limiting Nuclear Weapons during The Cold War? A. Plan of Investigation The investigation assesses the effect of limiting nuclear weapons during the Cold War. In order to evaluate its significance, the investigation evaluates the role of Détente and the Strategic Arms Limitation Talk during the Cold War. These causes are investigated by the SALT process, Strategic Defense Initiative, the role of Détente policy and

Nayarit Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons

1600 words - 6 pages As a follow-up of a historic international conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons (Oslo, March 2013), the government of Mexico hosted a 2nd international conference from 13-14 February 2014 in Nuevo Vallarta, a residential resort community in the state of Nayarit, to build momentum for an ambitious diplomatic process that puts the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons the essence of nuclear disarmament

the need and utility of nuclear weapons , destructors or Saviors?

777 words - 3 pages When one thinks of complete and total annihilation, the plumage of an infamous mushroom cloud is undoubtedly an image which comes to mind. This ominous image is '. . . a tiger which must be looked in the eye,' (Looking the Tiger in the Eye, 1982). The reason for which we must examine the issue of nuclear weapons, is best stated in the words of J. Robert Oppenheimer, '. . . until we have looked this tiger in the eye, we shall

The Number of Nuclear Weapons in the World and their Potential Destructive Power - Research Paper

1412 words - 6 pages Extinction-level events have been a recurring theme in earth’s history since life began. However, nuclear weapons are unique in that they represent the first opportunity for a species to deliberately unmake itself. How real is the threat of humanity's extinction via nuclear holocaust? One important aspect of answering this question is to observe the quantities and qualities of the various nuclear weapons that are held in reserve today. By

Shouls Every Country Have the Right to Possess of Nuclear Weapons?

1144 words - 5 pages radiation sickness and different types of cancers. Whilst the atomic bomb is considered as one of the greatest inventions of all time, in terms of how it could protect a nation, is it really worth having numerous amounts of governments on edge at the thought of a weapon so powerful? Ronald Reagan described nuclear weapons as: “Totally irrational, totally inhumane, good for nothing but killing, possibly leading to the destruction of life on Earth

The Spread of Christianity

1153 words - 5 pages crucification. There are 4 major branches of Christianity, Roman Catholic,Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and protestant. Christians believe in only one God, and follow The Holy Bible. Christianity certainly did not become the worlds largest religion overnight, in fact there were many factors which helped the spread of Christianity. The spread of Christianity was helped by conversion by force, the Roman Empire, and early missionaries.. The spread of

The Proliferation Of Nuclear Weapons Essay

1524 words - 6 pages Introduction The emergence of nuclear weapons was brought about by distrust amongst states, following progress in nuclear research into uranium fission. Fearing that Germany would create a nuclear weapon first, the United States employed vast resources into nuclear research and developing the first nuclear weapon. The Soviet Union followed by testing its first atomic bomb in 1949, thereby beginning a nuclear arms race amongst countries that

The Danger Of Nuclear Weapons Essay

762 words - 4 pages Nuclear weapons are the "most dangerous weapons on earth (2)." A bomb made back in the 1940s could destroy whole cities and leave behind deadly radiation. As technology has progressed, so has the destructive power of these bombs. Just in the 1960s, the Soviet Union had developed and tested a bomb that was well over 3,000 times as powerful as the Bombs in the '40s, and it would have caused third-degree burns to people standing over 60 miles

The Horror Of Nuclear Weapons Essay

1184 words - 5 pages time- Nuclear weapons. In the movie, he represents pure evil, destroying everything in his path. He is, however, only a product of mankind, and cannot help that fact. What drew the great beast from the ocean depths? Godzilla was created by H-Bomb testing at Bikini Atoll, 1954. The director of the film was inspired after the radioactive fallout from the test scorched a Japanese fishing vessel, The Lucky Dragon, with deadly effects. They were

The Constant Threat Of Nuclear Weapons

1191 words - 5 pages alarming and has put fear into many. A top priority of the United States is deterring unstable and radical individuals from producing or acquiring nuclear capabilities due to the risks it poses. There are nine known countries with nuclear weapons and Iran becoming a possible tenth. Four of these countries are in the Middle-East which has wide spread regional instability. Some of these states are too weak to secure and sustain their nuclear weapons