Weapons Proliferation

1
Weapons Proliferation
2
Weapons Proliferation

• Rapid increase in the number and destructive
  capability of armaments (SS, 2002, p. 11)
• Direct and indirect effects of proliferation
• Guns vs. butter
• Attention to WMD, but proliferation applies to
  all types of weapons, including conventional

3
Types of Proliferation

• Vertical Proliferation of Conventional Weapons
• Horizontal Proliferation of Conventional Weapons
• Vertical Proliferation of WMD
• Security and Prestige
• Horizontal Proliferation of WMD

4
Weapons of Mass Destruction

• Nuclear (Atomic), Biological, Chemical (ABC)
• Nuclear
• Admitted nuclear countries
• US, UK, France, Russia, China, India, Pakistan,
  North Korea
• Question marks Israel, Iran

5
WMD

• Biological
• Disease-causing micro-organisms
• Diseases (Plague, Smallpox, etc.)
• Toxins (Anthrax, Salmonella)
• Chemical
• Poisons that incapacitate, injure, kill
• Mustard gas
• Sarin
• Biological and Chemical weapons easy to produce,
  but difficult to deliver

6
WMD

• International Responses
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
• Chemical Weapons Convention
• Biological Weapons Convention
• Fear of WMD terrorism

7
Weapons Proliferation

• International Response re conventional weapons
• UN Registry of Conventional Arms
• Ineffective so far

8
Weapons Proliferation

• Which is the bigger threat Conventional or WMD
  proliferation?

9
Nuclear Weapons The Future?

• During Cold War, the key was deterrence. In
  post-Cold War era, should we continue to promote
  nuclear weapons for deterrence or even offensive
  purposes?

10
Nuclear Weapons The Future?

• Arguments against continued use for deterrence
  purposes (eliminationists)
• Use is morally and politically indefensible
  deterrence incredible
• Deterrence less necessary since end of Cold War
• Potential accidental or inadvertent use
• Possession by one country increases likelihood of
  possession by others

11
Nuclear Weapons The Future?

• Arguments for continued use for deterrence
  purposes
• Were in fact moral weapon of choice since kept
  us from conventional conflict.
• Primary use is deterrence, still necessary
• Manage and mitigate risks of accidents
• Getting everyone to give em up is wishful
  thinking