Nuclear Proliferation - Essay Example


Proliferation
Name
Institution
Introduction
Nuclear proliferation is a term that was used to describe the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Over the years, many nations have tried to control this proliferation due to the fear of what might happen incase these nuclear weapon technologies fall into the wrong hands. This attempt to contain the spread of nuclear technologies began during the interwar period. The Kellogg- Briand Pact of 1928 was a treaty signed to bring to an end wars between countries in Europe. The International safeguards system has attempted to contain the spread of nuclear weaponry. Later in 1968, a treaty on Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was signed to see to it that there were no cases of nuclear technology spreading especially to new states. This treaty is by far the only confirmation that nations using nuclear weapons were to see to it that disarmament was achieved. It was also to ensure that the spread of nuclear technology to careless and malicious people was curbed. Vertical and horizontal proliferations have been issues of concern. Over 190 parties are in consent with this treaty probably because of the fear that these nuclear weapons may end up in the hands of terrorists or failed states.
My proposed research question is; why did the U.S government target on Japan’s Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945? The bombing of Hiroshima and then Nagasaki city three days later were considered the two single terror acts ever. U.S.A, planned to attack Japan so as to subdue it. Before America attacked Japan and other states, it sent leaflets around warning them of the impending attacks. The leaflets further said that the U.S.A was aware of these cities harboring warehouses and factories with nuclear weapons. The leaflets also said that there was need to end the war and that the only way this was going to be achieved is by sabotaging all the weapons of mass destruction. America administered this warning with the aim of making the civilians flee the mentioned cities before the attacks. This sanction that was placed on Japan was not out of spite for the Japanese people but the weapons that were made in that country. This event in history is important as it looks into the ways that different states used so as to curb the problem of weapons of mass destruction falling into the wrong hands. In this case, America was aware that the weapons under the custody of Japan were going to fuel the World War II further. The Japanese government surrendered on 10th August 1945. Conventional thoughts hold that Truman’s intention was to save humanity from the many effects that were to be brought by the improper use of nuclear weapons. This stipulation is applicable in this event as it tries to bring out clearly the intentions that the United States of America had on Japan It clearly tells of the strategies that were used and explains the reasons behind using these strategies. The fact that President Truman decided to send fliers around is the strong point of this thought; to register a warning in advance.
Important sources for this proposal are the book “Why Nuclear Disarmament Matters” by Hans Blix and William Potter’s “Forecasting Nuclear proliferation in the 21st C: The Role of Theory”
References
Blix, H. Why Nuclear Disarmament Matters. New York: MIT Press, 2008.
Potter, W. Forecasting Nuclear Proliferation in the 21st C: The Role of Theory. New York :
Stanford University Press, 2010. Read More