Nuclear Non-Proliferation Within the International Arena

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Nuclear Non-Proliferation within the International Arena: An assessment on major solutions from both a realist and liberal perspective As defined by Christoph Bluth from the Political Studies Association, the proliferation of nuclear weapons is “widely perceived by political leaders as one of the major problems of global security in the contemporary era” (Bluth, 2012). This is clear by the catalog of concern and actions taken by governments around the world to address the issue of nuclear weaponry. With more than 22,000 nuclear weapons in existence today, international law must try to unite with nations in order to control, constrain and potentially eliminate nuclear weapons (Bluth, 2012). The following essay will examine nuclear non-proliferation within the context of both a realist and liberal view in international relations as well as examine potential solutions to the problem. Before discussing both standpoints on the issues, it’s important to look at the backstory of nuclear weapons. The history of nuclear weapons began with the discovery of radioactive elements: radium, polonium and uranium (Schlosser, 2014). These in turn led two German scientists, Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassman, to the discovery of nuclear fission and fusion. During World War II the German’s active research on the atomic bomb had prompted the US to secretly build our own atomic bomb. The first atomic device was exploded at a site near Alamogordo New Mexico on July 16, 1945. This successful test had lead both US and Britain to believe and agree that the atomic bomb could bring about Japanese’ surrender without an invasion and without Soviet’s help. The first atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 followed by another in Nagasaki, Japan on ... ... middle of paper ... ...ier. Web. 20 Apr. 2014. Granoff, Dean. "International Humanitarian Law and Nuclear Weapons: Irreconcilable Differences." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 67.7 (2011): 59-60. Web. 18 Apr. 2014. Gronlund, Lisbeth, and Eryn MacDonald. "America, Awash in Nuclear Weapons Materials." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 70.2 (2014): 53-67. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. Lifton, Robert Jay. "The Dimensions of Contemporary War and Violence: How to Reclaim Humanity from a Continuing Revolution in the Technology of Killing." Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 69.4 (2013): 9-17. Academic Search Premier. Web. 19 Apr. 2014. Magnarella, Paul J. "Attempts to Reduce and Eliminate Nuclear Weapons through the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and the Creation of Nuclear-weapon-free Zones." Peace & Change 33.4 (2008): 21-25. Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.

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