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Explore the significance of WMDs in the 21st century, from chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons to conventional arms. Understand the reasons behind countries' pursuit of WMDs, the challenges of deterrence, and the complexities of arms control. Delve into historical timelines, legitimacy concerns, and disarmament efforts. Analyze the evolution of international treaties and the delicate balance between offensive and defensive capabilities in the face of increasing threats. Discover why arms limitations are crucial and the ongoing global efforts towards disarmament.
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IS ARMS CONTROL THE ANSWER? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUyQu5qSGDM What makes WMDs different? Chem, bio, & nuke vs. conventional weapons They seem so 20th Century, so why do (some) countries want WMDs? How much is enough? Deterrence and mutually assured destruction (aka “massive retaliation's”; arguments for proliferation The security dilemma. We don’t want them, but… Why isn’t extended deterrence enough? The stability-instability paradox: Once you have them, what else can you do? (Israel, Pakistan, and the US as examples?) Legitimacy issues & claims to hegemony (domestic, regional, intl.)
Nuclear Warheads (Stockpiled, not deployed; the US and the Russia account for 95 % of the world’s nuclear weapons)
THE WMD’STIMELINE WWI: Extensive use by all sides 1945 first nuclear weapon used; plutonium based (roughly equal to 15K tons of dynamite, killing 120K people) 1949 USSR tests, 1952 UK tests 1950s development of hydrogen bombs (a 20 megaton bomb = 20 million tons of dynamite) 1957 Soviets test first ICBMs (the space race) 1957 Atoms for Peace effort; Intl. Atomic Energy Agency 1958 France tests 1961 Cuban Missile Crisis 1964 China tests, today a few 100 Since then: Israel, Pakistan, India, South Africa & N. Korea Other important developments: silo hardening, missile technology, MIRVs, tactical nukes, SLBMs (subs), ABMs, SDI (1987) grows up in the 2000s
WHY HAVE WE SOUGHT TO IMPOSE ARMS LIMITATIONS? International norms and tipping points How valuable are nukes today to the most powerful states?: Not very powerful Conventional vs. WMD capability gaps: What’s easiest and cheapest weapon for rising states to develop? The credibility problem for major powers’ WMDs, especially with extended deterrence: USSR in Afghanistan, US in Vietnam The morality issue (domestic and foreign) Are nukes offensive or defensive? Hard to tell The rogue regime & terrorism problem The number of actors and uncertainty
EFFORTS AT DISARMAMENT First things first: What’s the problems with the way intl treaties work? You can back out The Geneva Protocol of 1925 bans use of chemical weapons 1968/1970: NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty; ‘67 Space, ‘59 Antarctica 1972 ABM/SALT treaties bw US/USSR Encode MAD assumptions and tries to limit mistakes ICBM limits (1,500ish ) / SLBM limits (700ish) 1974: SALT—Limits total warheads & number of MIRVs (800ish) 1980s START; Reagan wanted to look into no nuke policy 1987 Missile Technology Control Regime 1993 South Africa gives up nukes, joining Post-Soviet countries Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993: Stockpiling & production 1996 CTBT opens for signatures (US hasn’t signed) The 2002 agreement: 2,200 warhead target & 1600 delivery vehicles apiece for the US/Russia 2010: 1500-1700 warheads & 800 vehicles (bombers + sea/land missiles)