A Brief History of Nuclear Proliferation:
Nuclear weapons have a long history that dates back to the discovery of radiation by 19th Century, but really takes off in World War II and the Manhattan Project. The Manhattan Project started in 1939 when the United States started research on how nuclear fission could be used for military purposes. The research increased greatly in 1942 when the United States entered the war and was accompanied by the development of nuclear material (Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239). There was enough nuclear material by 1945 and the first nuclear bomb was detonated at 5:30 am on July 16, 1945 at the Alamogordo base in New Mexico--this was followed of by the detonation of two nuclear weapons (the first Uranium and the second Plutonium) over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This officially launched the nuclear age.
Following the United States, the Soviet Union created their own nuclear program with the first bomb being detonated in 1949 and a thermonuclear device by 1953. This started an arms race between the two nations to see who could make the most nuclear weapons and determine who was the strongest. This became a very large part of the Cold War, which was in effect the United States and Soviet Union in a perpetual standoff, ready to fight each other at a moments notice while not fighting each other directly. The arms race and the sheer amount of nuclear proliferation eventually led to the idea of MAD, or mutually assured destruction, that referred to the ability of both sides to annihilate each other in the event of nuclear conflict. In fact, the idea of MAD is partially what prevented the Cold War from turning into a real war at some point.
Other nations also developed the nuclear bomb around this time. The first was the United Kingdom, whose first bombs were tested in the early 1950’s from their own nuclear weapons program. France was next, and they pursued a nuclear program in order to gain back lost prestige from World War II, to attempt to ensure French victory around the world, and to protect itself from a newly independent Germany. The first test was done in 1960. Then by the 1960’s, China had developed the nuclear bomb with help from the Soviet Union, partially in order to protect itself from nations such as the United States. These three, along with the United States and Soviet Union, are the “nuclear weapon states.”2
While the aforementioned nations are the only official nuclear weapon states, there are a number of de facto nuclear weapons states. The first is India, which got the bomb in 1974 after gaining help from the United States through the “Atoms for Peace” program in order to increase its security. Israel was a similar situation, gaining nuclear capabilities from the French for protection. Pakistan started a nuclear program in the 1950’s to protect against India and then took off in the 1970’s, but due to blocking from the United States and tons of economic pressure the first test was not done until 1998. North Korea’s situation was similar to Pakistan’s in that they faced many international roadblocks (especially from South Korea and the United States), but detonated their first bomb in 2006. Iran is a state that is currently attempting to create nuclear weapons to some extent. Other nations have had nuclear capabilities but gave them up for reasons including diplomatic and economic, such as South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, and many of the ex-Soviet Republics after the fall of the Soviet Union.2
Works Cited
1 The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Manhattan Project." Encyclopædia Britannica. July
18, 2017. Accessed September 26, 2017. https://www.britannica.com/event/Manhattan-Project.
2 Charnysh, Volha. A Brief History of Nuclear Proliferation. PDF. Nuclear Age Peace
Foundation, 2009.
Nuclear weapons have a long history that dates back to the discovery of radiation by 19th Century, but really takes off in World War II and the Manhattan Project. The Manhattan Project started in 1939 when the United States started research on how nuclear fission could be used for military purposes. The research increased greatly in 1942 when the United States entered the war and was accompanied by the development of nuclear material (Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239). There was enough nuclear material by 1945 and the first nuclear bomb was detonated at 5:30 am on July 16, 1945 at the Alamogordo base in New Mexico--this was followed of by the detonation of two nuclear weapons (the first Uranium and the second Plutonium) over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This officially launched the nuclear age.
Following the United States, the Soviet Union created their own nuclear program with the first bomb being detonated in 1949 and a thermonuclear device by 1953. This started an arms race between the two nations to see who could make the most nuclear weapons and determine who was the strongest. This became a very large part of the Cold War, which was in effect the United States and Soviet Union in a perpetual standoff, ready to fight each other at a moments notice while not fighting each other directly. The arms race and the sheer amount of nuclear proliferation eventually led to the idea of MAD, or mutually assured destruction, that referred to the ability of both sides to annihilate each other in the event of nuclear conflict. In fact, the idea of MAD is partially what prevented the Cold War from turning into a real war at some point.
Other nations also developed the nuclear bomb around this time. The first was the United Kingdom, whose first bombs were tested in the early 1950’s from their own nuclear weapons program. France was next, and they pursued a nuclear program in order to gain back lost prestige from World War II, to attempt to ensure French victory around the world, and to protect itself from a newly independent Germany. The first test was done in 1960. Then by the 1960’s, China had developed the nuclear bomb with help from the Soviet Union, partially in order to protect itself from nations such as the United States. These three, along with the United States and Soviet Union, are the “nuclear weapon states.”2
While the aforementioned nations are the only official nuclear weapon states, there are a number of de facto nuclear weapons states. The first is India, which got the bomb in 1974 after gaining help from the United States through the “Atoms for Peace” program in order to increase its security. Israel was a similar situation, gaining nuclear capabilities from the French for protection. Pakistan started a nuclear program in the 1950’s to protect against India and then took off in the 1970’s, but due to blocking from the United States and tons of economic pressure the first test was not done until 1998. North Korea’s situation was similar to Pakistan’s in that they faced many international roadblocks (especially from South Korea and the United States), but detonated their first bomb in 2006. Iran is a state that is currently attempting to create nuclear weapons to some extent. Other nations have had nuclear capabilities but gave them up for reasons including diplomatic and economic, such as South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, and many of the ex-Soviet Republics after the fall of the Soviet Union.2
Works Cited
1 The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Manhattan Project." Encyclopædia Britannica. July
18, 2017. Accessed September 26, 2017. https://www.britannica.com/event/Manhattan-Project.
2 Charnysh, Volha. A Brief History of Nuclear Proliferation. PDF. Nuclear Age Peace
Foundation, 2009.
A History of Nuclear Treaties
Nuclear weapons have been a mainstay in international politics ever since their prominence began in the 1950’s, most notably in this period with the Cold War and diplomatic standoffs. These issues only increased when more nations (such as the United Kingdom, France, China, etc.) gained nuclear weapons for their own purposes, often citing protection. With weapons of that magnitude belonging to so many nations in such great quantities, it was only logical that treaties be signed and created to hopefully limit the weapons.
The first of these treaties was the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968 (NPT) which came into effect in 1970. It was used to contain the spread of nuclear weapons, and currently has 189 signatories - five of whom are the “nuclear weapon states,” or the U.S., Russia (formerly the Soviet Union), U.K., France and China. These nations are forbidden by the treaty to give nuclear weapons to nations that do not have them, and nations outside of the nuclear weapons states are forbidden from having nuclear weapons if they are a signatory to the theory. If a nation rids itself of nuclear weapons, it of course may join the treaty - a route taken by South Africa. The treaty itself is made of 11 articles dealing with non-proliferation and starting in 1995 has been reviewed and renewed every five years. While the treaty has had its successes in the world (Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, etc.), there has been some strife, such as in 2005 when there was a disagreement between the U.S. and Ghana over whether non-proliferation should be focused on or disarmament by the nuclear nations. There have also been issues with Iran and North Korea not complying with NPT standards.
Other major treaties include the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests In The Atmosphere, In Outer Space And Under-Water, which is also known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PBT) of 1963 and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The latter was signed in 1996 but has not come into effect because several signers of the treaty not ratifying it. Perhaps the most significant of these other treaties are the SALT I and II talks between the United States and the Soviet Union. The talks centered on denuclearizing the two nations, doing things such as limiting both offensive, defensive and launch systems. The first talks took place from 1967-1972, and the second took place in 1979. The SALT talks are the first and best example of bilateral treaties and negotiation in order to lower nuclear proliferation and tensions.
The best example of a modern nuclear deal is the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal between the United States, Iran, and a conglomerate of other nations. In this deal, the nations involved agreed to lift sanctions on Iran if they complied with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), their standards and investigations. Some of the requirements are Iran submitting to random and scheduled inspections, lower uranium production and generally slow down research and development
Works Cited
1 Charnysh, Volha. A Brief History of Nuclear Proliferation. PDF. Nuclear Age Peace
Foundation, 2009
2 "Nuclear Weapons – UNODA." United Nations. Accessed September 26, 2017.
https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/.
3 U.S. Department of State. Accessed September 26, 2017.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/salt.
4"Iran Nuclear Deal: Key Details". 2017. BBC News.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33521655.
Nuclear weapons have been a mainstay in international politics ever since their prominence began in the 1950’s, most notably in this period with the Cold War and diplomatic standoffs. These issues only increased when more nations (such as the United Kingdom, France, China, etc.) gained nuclear weapons for their own purposes, often citing protection. With weapons of that magnitude belonging to so many nations in such great quantities, it was only logical that treaties be signed and created to hopefully limit the weapons.
The first of these treaties was the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968 (NPT) which came into effect in 1970. It was used to contain the spread of nuclear weapons, and currently has 189 signatories - five of whom are the “nuclear weapon states,” or the U.S., Russia (formerly the Soviet Union), U.K., France and China. These nations are forbidden by the treaty to give nuclear weapons to nations that do not have them, and nations outside of the nuclear weapons states are forbidden from having nuclear weapons if they are a signatory to the theory. If a nation rids itself of nuclear weapons, it of course may join the treaty - a route taken by South Africa. The treaty itself is made of 11 articles dealing with non-proliferation and starting in 1995 has been reviewed and renewed every five years. While the treaty has had its successes in the world (Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, etc.), there has been some strife, such as in 2005 when there was a disagreement between the U.S. and Ghana over whether non-proliferation should be focused on or disarmament by the nuclear nations. There have also been issues with Iran and North Korea not complying with NPT standards.
Other major treaties include the Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests In The Atmosphere, In Outer Space And Under-Water, which is also known as the Partial Test Ban Treaty (PBT) of 1963 and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The latter was signed in 1996 but has not come into effect because several signers of the treaty not ratifying it. Perhaps the most significant of these other treaties are the SALT I and II talks between the United States and the Soviet Union. The talks centered on denuclearizing the two nations, doing things such as limiting both offensive, defensive and launch systems. The first talks took place from 1967-1972, and the second took place in 1979. The SALT talks are the first and best example of bilateral treaties and negotiation in order to lower nuclear proliferation and tensions.
The best example of a modern nuclear deal is the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal between the United States, Iran, and a conglomerate of other nations. In this deal, the nations involved agreed to lift sanctions on Iran if they complied with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), their standards and investigations. Some of the requirements are Iran submitting to random and scheduled inspections, lower uranium production and generally slow down research and development
Works Cited
1 Charnysh, Volha. A Brief History of Nuclear Proliferation. PDF. Nuclear Age Peace
Foundation, 2009
2 "Nuclear Weapons – UNODA." United Nations. Accessed September 26, 2017.
https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/.
3 U.S. Department of State. Accessed September 26, 2017.
https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/salt.
4"Iran Nuclear Deal: Key Details". 2017. BBC News.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33521655.