Diplomacy and Strategy in International Relations (Essay Sample)

WHY DO STATES PURSUE NUCLEAR WEAPONS?
Name of Student
Name of Course
Lecturer’s Name
Name of Institution
Date of Submission
Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u 1.0 Introduction PAGEREF _Toc500008695 \h 32.0 Application of Nuclear Weapons in Wars PAGEREF _Toc500008696 \h 33.0 Case Study USA PAGEREF _Toc500008697 \h 54.0 Nuclear Development in China PAGEREF _Toc500008698 \h 85.0 Case study of India’s nuclear weapons PAGEREF _Toc500008699 \h 116.0 Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc500008700 \h 147.0 References PAGEREF _Toc500008701 \h 16
1.0 Introduction
Nuclear weapons are explosive devices of mass destruction usually targeted for interstate conflicts. These weapons are designed to release high quantities of energy from simple reactions, resulting in blasts and long lasting radiations that can lead to large scale destruction of structures and loss of human life. Nuclear weapons can occur as either thermonuclear bombs or fission bombs depending on the types of reactions. Due to their agility and lethal nature, nuclear weapons have remained the most destructive form of war elements in political conflicts (Kapur 2008: 71-94). Some of the notable instances of nuclear bombing for political and supremacy gains include the historic atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Nuclear weapons activities are majorly controlled by the Nuclear Weapons States that include United States of America, United Kingdom, France, China and India. However, due to signing of the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear, regulations have been initiated to achieve complete disarmament. Thus one of the reasons for pursuing nuclear weapons is for application in political conflicts.
2.0 Application of Nuclear Weapons in Wars
The most common examples of nuclear weapons are atomic bombs and thermonuclear weapons. Others include boosted fission weapon which implicates the principle of fission reactions to release large amounts of energy, neutron bomb which is a form of thermonuclear weapon emitting a lot of neutron radiation and antimatter weapons composed of electric particles of opposite charges that triggers it to violent explosions. Whenever a target country has been identified, different delivery was can be designed to propel these nuclear weapons to the location. For example, dropping of gravity bombs from the air using strategic bombers or fighter bombers. However this method cannot be used to attack from long ranges since it takes a lot of time to reach targets. Alternatively, nuclear bombs can be mounted on missiles with high ballistic trajectories to accurately and speedily deliver bombs to targeted zones.
With the help of new technological developments like intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICNMs), submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRVs), political attacks have been intensified since nuclear bombs can be projected to any part of the globe. Super power countries are also developing more sophisticated techniques like artillery shells, torpedoes and atomic mortar to facilitate the delivery of these nuclear weapons. Therefore, target countries need to develop counter-attacks strategies for either retaliating or detonating the bombs before explosions. As a result, countries are involved in constant research and development of sophisticated techniques for either developing sophisticated nuclear weapons or researching on missile defence mechanisms (Sagan 1996: 97).
Since nuclear weapons are categorised as tools of mass destruction, it is therefore not advisable for two warring countries to use these weapons in their conflicts as this might lead to mutual annihilation. Strategic weapons from both sides would cause total destruction to properties and killing of large populations as tactical weapons wipe out soldiers in the battlefield. Therefore, it can also be established that various countries participate in the development of nuclear weapons in readiness to retaliate or cause fear of mutually assured destruction. Furthermore, countries implement the strategy of nuclear deterrence in order to counter-attack their enemy’s destruction plans and plan a possible first attack scenario. As a result peace may prevail, considering the magnitude of destruction that may result from retaliatory nuclear bombings (Obama 2009: 173-186).
Development of nuclear weapons is also helpful in promoting nuclear proliferation, that is, the distribution of nuclear weapons to other nations that are not part of the Nuclear Weapon Sates (Jo & Gartzke 2007: 167-194). This promotes peaceful coexistence and international stability since no country will hold another at stake, for obvious reasons of fierce revenges. However, proliferation may also result in mass destruction if accessed by suicidal terrorists. This report discusses the implications of nuclear weapons in USA, China and India.
3.0 Case Study USA
The United States became the first country to prepare its own nuclear weapons before launching them into war at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The country spends a lot of funds assembling its weapons and delivery ways, with its current status owning more than 6800 nuclear warheads. Therefore due to active nuclear activity, the country has also spent over $ 1.2 billion to compensate citizens affected by nuclear hazards. The country’s nuclear development program was motivated by World War 2 and fears of invasion by Nazi Germany. Commonly referred to as the Manhattan Project, development of the USA’s first nuclear weapons involved intensive research and commitment of the Office of Scientific Research and Development, and also the States’ army (Lieber & Press 2006: 43-78). Its early weapons were made of plutonium while others utilised the principles of electromagnetic and gaseous diffusion to produce uranium-235, which was later used to bomb the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
However, the pace for nuclear development in USA was greatly curtailed by the ending of cold war and dissolution of the Soviet Union. As a result, its stockpile was reduced due to interference with production and testing programs. Before launching their nuclear weapons in wars, the USA relevant authorities must conduct tests to ascertain the effects of such weapons. For a long period of time, the tests conducted were atmospheric, implying that they were being conducted above the ground in test sites like Nevada, Alaska and New Mexico. However, following the Partial Test Ban Treaty, it was agreed that tests on nuclear weapons be done underground to mitigate the effects of spread of the nuclear fallout (.Gartzke & Kroenig 2016: 397-412). The mostly affected parties by USA nuclear tests include Marshall Islanders and the Japanese fishers due to rampant tests conducted in the Pacific Ocean. Due to this exposure, agricultural production in the USA has also been affected due to presence of chemical inhibitors in the atmosphere. Since 1945, a series of nuclear tests have been conducted by the USA authorities including the trinity test, operation crossroads and Ivy Mike.
One of the delivery channels utilised by the USA is the specially designed bomber planes used for transporting the initial weapons, Little Boy and Fat Man. However, with development of new technology, successful researches have been conducted on the standardisation of nuclear warheads for use in varying war zones. Subsequent developments have also helped in design of rockets capable of immediate delivery of warheads. Ultimate computerisation has also helped in development of defence support programs that enables detection of incoming nuclear attacks. Furthermore, invention of intercontinental ballistic missile systems and development of short range weapons tactical attacks have also helped in shielding against nuclear weapons. However, since USA is party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the country pursues its nuclear weapon development just to play an important role in execution of the provisions in the treaty because USA also belongs to the New Weapon States (Sagan 2011: 225-244).
Through its development agencies like Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD) and National Defence Research Committee, the country works towards exercising control over the development of atomic bombs. The formation of Atomic Energy Commission also became a milestone in the history of USA towards monitoring of nuclear activities since the committee was given powers to control research, finances and ownership of lands suspected to contain uranium elements. USA is advocating for non-proliferation of nuclear weapons since it is considered as way of distracting world peace.
Due to political and military influence, USA intended to retain monopoly and nuclear technology in order to remain in control of nuclear weapons. This is because, nuclear weapons can cause mass destruction and caution must be take not to be accessed by every nation (Rabinowitz & Miller 2015: 47-86). As a result, USA administration remains vigilant on countries testing nuclear weapons. For example, when India and Pakistan were reported to have conducted nuclear tests, the then president of USA, Bill Clinton imposed economic sanction on these countries citing violation of the NPT. However, USA administration contradicts itself for selective application of these restrictions as observed in the reluctance in its intervention in Israel’s decision to test nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons supremacy battles also triggered the USA’s action to confront china in 2001, due to their disagreement over China’s action of blocking Taiwan’s offshore islands.
USA is one of the known members of the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), an international treaty for controlling the spread of nuclear weapons and nuclear technology. The treaty also aims at improving p...