Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime: Are New Institutions Needed?

Authors : Hasan Saygin, Özüm Sezin Uzun

Pages : 115-131

Doi:10.14782/ipsus.539196

View : 19 | Download : 12

Publication Date : 2019-03-27

Article Type : Research

Abstract :The existence of nuclear weapons, including the increasing of tactical nuclear weapons, is the major cause of a current nuclear threat at both the international and regional levels. In addition to the continuation of political and military motivations of states to acquire nuclear weapons, the institutional challenges of nuclear nonproliferation do also complicate this current problem. Even though the political and military motivations of states to acquire nuclear weapons are examined by the vast amount of studies, the effectiveness of international nuclear regime is rarely analyzed. Regarding the continuation of nuclear energy importance and the dual nature of nuclear technology, the necessity for reliable and effective institutions to prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons became more apparent. Therefore, this article aims to shed light on the ineffectiveness of the current international nuclear regime and the need for new institutional mechanism. This article analyzed the effectiveness of international nuclear regime measuring its capability of problem-solving, reducing nuclear motivations of states, providing legal framework and verification process, and creating and consolidating normative principles. While the nuclear regime could partly be seen as effective regarding the low number of current nuclear weapon states than the expected numbers in 1960s, it faces with serious challenges in solving the nuclear problem. One of the challenges emerges because of the lack of universal acceptance of the international treaties and organizations. The regime has also not effectively addressed to reduce the nuclear motivations of states. Even though it has provided legal framework and verifying process, there are still difficulties to detect nuclear activities for military purposes. Lastly, the regime has effectively created the non-use and deterrence norms, while failed to create and consolidate the nonproliferation norm, based on total elimination of nuclear weapons. In fact, this article argues that the current institutional mechanism should be revised considering the causes of threats; furthermore, new mechanisms should be established in order to meet the newly emerged challenges in the post-Cold War era. In that respect, this article firstly analyzes the ineffectiveness of current international nuclear regime in order to demonstrate the urgent need for a paradigm shift. Then, it suggests a new multilateral mechanism, as an attempt to contribute to create a discussion platform for alternative institutional mechanisms.
Keywords : international nuclear regime, effectiveness of nuclear regime, nuclear weapons, nonproliferation of nuclear weapons