The Nonproliferation Treaty: Nuclear Power Weapon - Research Paper Example

The Nonproliferation Treaty: Nuclear Power Weapon Introduction Nuclear Weapons have been a topic of debate since the use of atom bomb on Japan in August 1945. Ever since many efforts have been taken to ensure that the world is free from nuclear weapons but so far the efforts have not proved to be successful enough. The advent of nuclear weapons can be traced back to the 1930s under the influence of many scientists amongst which Albert Einstein had a primary role to play. Ever since the invention of the nuclear weapons it has been seen that many states have come out to own these weapons. There are five states that own nuclear weapons under the Nonproliferation Treaty including China, Russia, France, United Kingdom and United States. Three other states which own nuclear weapons but are not under the NPT are India, Pakistan and Israel. However in the recent years it is seen that other nations are also trying to have their hands on the nuclear weapons and this can prove to be dreadful for the whole world if these weapons fall in the wrong hands. It is necessary to disarm nuclear weapons to maintain peace in the world (Arms Control Association). History The history of the nuclear weapons can be traced back to the 1930s when the Manhattan Project was developed by the leading scientists of the world. The Manhattan Project was a scheme launched by the top scientists of the world so that they could use atomic energy to form weapons before any other country did so. The aim of the project was to maintain peace of the world but this could not be achieved as the US President Harry Truman decided to test the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are remembered till date as the most deadliest bombings as they killed more than 200,000 people. The Soviet Union was the second country to develop the atomic bomb in 1953. It was seen that both US and Soviet Union dominated the case of weapons in the 1960s unchallenged. However in the latter years China, United Kingdom and France developed the weapons too (New Internationalist 2008; Cirincione 2007 p 80). Advantages It is believed that the Nuclear Weapons have their own advantages when it comes to certain issues. Robinson argues that the United States should increase its nuclear warheads so that the peace of the world can be ensured for a longer time. He affirms that nuclear weapons can prove to be a great source of pressure for other nations as the fear that it has created is still felt all over the world. Nuclear war heads being possessed by different nations gives an edge to everyone. World Wars can be avoided because of these nuclear warheads. Robinson believes that the nuclear warheads of America should be further increased as this would help in “deterring wider acts of aggression from any corner of the world, including deterring the use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.” (Robinson 2001). Moreover it is also argued that nuclear weapons should still be made by reliable countries in order to maintain peace as some of the previous nuclear warheads have had some manufacturing defects because of their durability (Nelson 2001). Nowadays it is seen that almost six to seven countries own these nuclear warheads and this can be cited as an advantage for the whole world. If a single country owned the nuclear warheads it would have exercised superiority over all the countries of the world and this sort of situation has been avoided by all these countries together. Thus in other words superiority of a single country has been tackled with by the possession of nuclear warheads by different countries (Shahid 2010). Disadvantages While possession of nuclear warheads is proving to be advantageous to many nations it is also proving a threat to the whole world. Nuclear weapons have caused massive destruction in World War II and it is presumed that it may cause further harms in the coming days. It is considered to be morally disgusting and terrorizing. The nuclear weapons are made with a highly reactive element known as uranium which has the potential to harm a lot of human lives. The money spent on nuclear warheads can rather be spent on better things (Edwards 1986 p 15-20). One of the most potential threat of nuclear weapons these days is known as nuclear proliferation. It has been found that third world countries like Pakistan and India are susceptible to terrorist attacks which may lead to the larceny of the nuclear weapons possessed by the nations. A Harvard study revealed that the Pakistan nuclear warheads were susceptible to being stolen by terrorists and this can pose a threat to the integrity of the whole world. Such issues make nuclear weapons the most undesirable thing on this planet (Borger 2010). Reasons for eradicating nuclear weapons It is because of these disadvantages that many organizations have been formed all over the world to ensure that the world becomes a nuclear free planet. In 1955 efforts were made by Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell to abolish the nuclear warheads but it did not turn out to be successful. As the threat of nuclear weapons is increasing it is seen that other nations of this world are trying to grasp this technology so that they can have an edge over the nations already possessing it. Currently the nuclear weapons are being massively produced all over the world and if this is not stopped bombs of greater intensity can be formed. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has to come forward and take some steps so that the nuclear weapons can be eradicated from this world. Within no time the nuclear weapons will also be in the hands of terrorist groups and this would harm the peace of the whole world (Wrokpoh) Conclusion The world should be a nuclear free region as it is posing threats to the integrity of the whole world. The problem of nuclear weapons can only be solved if a peace process is started all over the world with the help of all the countries that currently hold these weapons. The superiority that these nuclear weapons give to a single country is inexplicable and this can be witnessed in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. A way should be sort out through which these nuclear weapons can be eradicated from the society. References Albert Einstein "A brief history of nuclear weapons; ' New Internationalist Issue 412. 2008. < http://www.newint.org/features/2008/06/01/nuclear-weapons-history/> A Nuclear Free World: Will It Ever Be A Reality? The Inquirer. Patrick Wrokpoh. Nuclear Weapons: Who Has What at a Glance. Arms Control Association. http://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/Nuclearweaponswhohaswhat Pursuing a New Nuclear Weapons Policy for the 21st Century. Paul Robinson 2001. http://www.sandia.gov/media/whitepaper/2001-04-Robinson.htm The benefits of having nuclear weapons. Kamran Shahid 2010 Express Tribune. Pakistan nuclear weapons at risk of theft by terrorists, US study warns. Julian Borger 2010. Top of Form Edwards, A. J. C. (1986). Nuclear weapons, the balance of terror, the quest for peace. Albany: State University of New York Press. Bottom of Form Top of Form Cirincione, J. (2007). Bomb scare: The history and future of nuclear weapons. New York: Columbia University Press. Bottom of Form Robert Nelson, “Low Yield Earth Penetrating Nuclear Weapons,” Federation of American Scientists Public Interest Report, January/February 2001, p.1, www.fas.org/faspir/archive.htm; and Science & Global Security (forthcoming). Read More