nuclear proliferation Flashcards
Which five countries signed the nuclear proliferation treaty in 1968 and remain permanent members of the UN security council and what did the treaty state
USA, USSR, China, UK and France
Stated p-5 could have weapons but others couldn’t in exchange the p-5 would aim to decrease their missiles
What did Schelling (1980) claim about the risk of nuclear weapons
the idea that if there even a small risk that conventional attack would cause an opponent to escalate to nuclear conflict in response, that risk would deter the conventional attack
6 theories why states build nuclear weapons
- Security model – build nuclear arsenals to increase security against foreign threats
- Domestic politics model – states build nuclear weapons to advance domestic interests
- Norms model – states build nuclear wepaons because weapons a acquisition provides a normative symbol of a states modernity
- Psychology model - build nuclear weapons because leaders hold a conception of their nations identity that leads them to desire the bomb
- Political economy model – because the nature of the country’s economy gives their leaders different incentives for or against having nuclear weapons
- Strategic culture model- build nuclear weapons because their culture leads them to hold certain ideas about acquiring nuclear weapons
what countries relinquished their weapons across the 1990’s
• In 1993, South Africa relinquished their six nuclear weapons. Kazakhstan, Belarus and Ukraine gave up their stockpiles when the USSR split up.
Why are new countries developing nuclear weapons a threat?
- New nuclear powers don’t have the same systems, checks or controls on weapons so risk is higher.
- Countries with weaker civilian control may be more aggressive and less risk averse and could lead countries into conflict with risk of nuclear war
what is the stability-instability paradox?
nuclear armed countries feel safe from large scale attack so feel free to engage in low level provocations and conflicts. The fact they have nuclear weapons keeps anyone from threatening with a large scale conflict
when were the SALT1 and INF treaties made and what did they agree
- SALT 1 in 1972, reduced number of ballistic defence missiles but not size of them which was addressed in SALT II but not came through
- INF treaty in 1987, limited the deployment of mid range nuclear missiles
what were the treaties made in 1991 and 1993 and what did they agree
- 1991, Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty was signed by Russia and USA which agreed to reduce their nuclear arsenal.
- 1993, START II which banned the use of MIRV’s or ICBM’s
two significant events in 2002
- 2002, USA withdrew form anti ballistic missile treaty in order to create a defence system/shield and Russia withdrew from START II
- SORT signed in 2002 agreed to continue to reduce stockpiles of deployed weapons
The new START treaty in 2010 between USA and Russia agreed to reduce their nuclear warheads to _____ each and limits the number of _____
1,550 each
missile launchers
how many states have signed the NPT
190
problems with the NPT
- Problem with NPT is that it is not universal. Israel, Pakistan, India never signed and North Korea withdrew in 2003. Also have weak provision enforcement as shown by north korea and Iran
- Also argue five nuclear states doesn’t out enough pressure on countries to dismantle their warheads
what is the global zero movement and the problems with it
• ‘Global Zero’ movement called for disarmament and eventual abolition of nuclear weapons. However, no states want to relinquish their weapons before others do
why might states not want to acquire nuclear weapons
- Nuclear deterrence and threat of retaliation
- Tannenwald argues there is a taboo against using and acquiring nuclear weapons
- international law and institutions made to prevent it
How many members does the International atomic energy agency have and what are its three missions
167 member states
Peaceful states, nuclear safety, safeguards to ensure nuclear energy is not used for military purposes
