Politics of Nuclear Proliferation

Faisal Saeed Cheema

The politics of proliferation has been significantly debated in the international politics since the introduction of nuclear weapons in 1945. The recurrent questions of the debate has been like who is responsible for the proliferation of nuclear weapons? What are the considerations for going nuclear? And how the proliferation of the weapons can be countered? The answer to these questions is that states acquire nuclear weapons due to different reasons like the security consideration, domestic politics, inefficacy of the non-proliferation regime, conventional weapons asymmetry, lack of extended deterrence, the importance of the nuclear weapons in the international politics and, in some cases to fulfil the regional hegemonic ambitions. The above-mentioned contours of proliferation fluctuate from country to country and from region to region and this article would try to analyse the above-mentioned factors of nuclear proliferation.
First, the most important factor for acquiring nuclear weapons is the security concerns. The most relevant example in this context is Pakistan, which acquired nuclear weapons to balance the Indian threat. The nuclear weapons have deterred India from attacking after the revealed nuclear capabilities of Pakistan. Furthermore, we have seen that the introduction of nuclear weapons has averted the outbreak of any major war in the South Asian region.
Second, the prestige factor is also equally responsible for the proliferation of weapons. The USA detonated the nuclear device after the end of World War II. The main purpose seemed to the ascendancy in the new international political system in post war scenario. If we recall the situation in the Second World War, we see that Germany was already overwhelmed and Japan was on the verge of collapse when the USA dropped atom bomb upon them. The USA at that time hunted to be the only power in the world affairs after the collapse of European powers in the World War II. So in case of the United States the main objective for the acquisition of nuclear weapons was the desire to be a leading power in the international system. The second state, which joined the nuclear club, was the former Soviet Union in 1949. The consideration for acquiring the bomb was also to achieve great power status in the international political system. At the time, the Soviets were without any threat to there national security. The only purpose was to achieve equivalence with the USA. The third and the fourth states to join the nuclear club were Great Britain and France in 1952 and 1964 respectively. Both these states were also keen to acquire the prestigious position in the comity of nations. England was without any threat and was under the security umbrella of the USA. The fifth state to join the nuclear club was Peoples Republic of China in 1964. The reasons for the acquisition of weapons were stemmed partially from the security considerations and partially from the prestige factor in inter state relations. After the nuclear explosions, Chinese beefed up there security against any threat.
Third, another factor of nuclear proliferation is the aspiration for regional hegemony. In this context, the most appropriate example is of India, which detonated its so-called peaceful nuclear explosion in 1974. Although this was described as a peaceful nuclear explosion, but this also provided the foundation for the Indian nuclear programme. In May 1998, India overtly crossed the nuclear threshold. The reasons for the nuclear explosions were multifarious. The most significant factor was the aspiration of great power status. The timing of the explosions is the evidence in hand. In May 1998, India was without any threat and was enjoying good relations with China. As far as Pakistan is concerned, India had no threat at that time. Besides the prestige factor, domestic politics was also vital. The BJP government wanted to earn political electoral fallout from the tests.
Fourth, the inefficacy of the non-proliferation regime is another cause of nuclear proliferation. The non-proliferation introduced by the superpowers was based upon the double standard and was discriminatory. The non-proliferation regime made it mandatory upon the nuclear states not to make available nuclear technology to the no-nuclear weapon states while at the same time the nuclear weapon states can exchange nuclear technologies among themselves. These type of policies by the superpowers proved counter productive and non-nuclear weapon states sought nuclear technologies to get membership of the prestigious club of nuclear weapons.
Fifth, another factor for the spread of nuclear weapons is the asymmetrical balance of conventional weapons. The states, which are weak conventionally, seek nuclear weapons to equalize with the adversary. The classic example of this scenario is the case of India and Pakistan. India is stronger than Pakistan in conventional weapons and Pakistan has acquired nuclear weapons to meet Indian aggression.
The proliferation of nuclear weapons has been resulted from the discriminatory policies of the great powers coupled with aspiration for great power status. Furthermore, different threat perception and resulted security needs of the different countries has accentuated the spread of nuclear weapons.