Political Science 144: Intro to International Relations
Institution
Stellenbosch University (SUN)
Book
The Globalization of World Politics
Summary study book The Globalization of World Politics of John Baylis, Smith, Steve - ISBN: 9780198739852, Edition: 1, Year of publication: december 2 (chapter 25)
Intro to International Relations Book Summaries IRO Year 1 Block 1
All for this textbook (23)
Written for
Stellenbosch University (SUN)
Political Science 144: Intro to International Relations
All documents for this subject (15)
1
review
By: stuvia11200 • 5 year ago
Seller
Follow
ysechabanel
Reviews received
Content preview
Political Science 144
Chapter 25: Nuclear Proliferation
What is a nuclear programme?
Has dual use can be used to generate energy or make a nuclear weapon
- Generate power in form of heat
- Weapon seeks to create a large explosion through fission or fusion
-
WMD weapons of mass destruction because of their explosive capacity
- Dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- Damage: a blast & thermal radiation (heat) & nuclear radiation
- Globalisation has heightened concern that a non-state actor such as terrorists might try
acquire nuclear weapons
Nuclear Proliferation since 1945
- Nuclear weapons during cold war focuses primarily on bipolar competition between USA
and Soviet Union
Nuclear deterrence warning to others not to attack, ‘the question of how nuclear weapons
could be used to prevent an opponent from taking on an undesirable action’
- To deter Soviet Union, USA used two strategies:
1. Counterforce strategy American nuclear weapons targeted soviet unions nuclear
and conventional military assets
2. Countervalue strategy assets threatened with nuclear retaliation were targets of
industrial or social value (cities with large populations)
Theoretical debates about nuclear proliferation
Nuclear opacity also known as “nuclear ambiguity” or “the bomb in the basement approach”,
not sure if country is in possession of nuclear infrastructures
Latent nuclear capacity a country that possesses the infrastructure, material and technical
capabilities to quickly assemble a nuclear weapon but has never done so (Japan)
Nuclear power and weapons can be used for defence or attack
- Can be domestic political reasons
- Prestige of having nuclear weapons (North Korea proud) makes you important player
internationally
Motivations for having nuclear weapons
- Potential utility in fighting and winning major international armed conflicts (only been
used in Japan 1945)
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller ysechabanel. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $2.84. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
