Global nuclear order

Nuclear weapons are the most destructive weapons ever invented. No other single weapon system threatens the survival of life on this planet in anywhere near the way that nuclear weapons, and the threat of nuclear war, do. Since 1945 the quest to manage, and even eradicate, nuclear dangers has been, and remains, central to shaping the global order. Understanding issues of geopolitical security today requires an understanding of the contours of the global nuclear order. 

In this unit you will explore the politics of the possession and control of what Bernard Brodie famously dubbed “the absolute weapon.” You will analyse the history and current policies of the states that possess nuclear weapons, as well as “threshold” states that maintain some ability to acquire a nuclear capability. You will also examine the attempts to control the spread of these weapons, successful and otherwise, and even examples of states giving up nuclear capabilities. You will explore contemporary trends in technological developments that have an impact on nuclear balances, the links between the civilian nuclear industry and weapons programmes, and the illicit or ‘blackmarket’ trade in nuclear materials. 

You will engage with  issues and debates around access to sensitive technologies, the different roles of multilateral organisations and international law, as well as the lessons we can draw from the history of the nuclear age so far for contemporary international politics. The unit is therefore relevant to politics and international relations students as well as wider areas including history, law and engineering.