Abstract
They say that from the beginning of time small and large states have equipped themselves with the best arms they could afford to achieve or defend their interests. As long as international relations are based on substantial anarchy (and some believe it is best that way because the only alternative, they say, is an empire) it is inevitable (and perhaps opportune) that nations have or try to have the instruments with which to command respect. If that is the way things really stand, why waste time and energy in the quixotic (or imperialistic) battle for nuclear non-proliferation? Would it not be better to establish some kind of international order that includes the many large nuclear powers, but also the medium and maybe even the small ones? This question begs another: is it really true that a world with many militarily nuclear countries would be a more dangerous and unstable place than it is today? Nuclear weapons could provide a more effective defence, discouraging aggressors with their lethality; as someone figuratively put it, they would be the spines of a world of porcupines, peace-loving but unassailable animals [1].
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References
See, for example, J.J. Weltman, “Nuclear Devolution and World Order” in World Politics, (January 1980) pp. 169–93; and K. Waltz, “The Spread of Nuclear Weapons: More May be Better” Adelphi Paper, No. 171, (London: IISS, 1981). The porcupine image is used by R. Sandoval, “Consider the Porcupine: Another View of Nuclear Proliferation”, in Bulletin Atomic Scientists, (May 1976) p. 17
See S. Feldman, Israeli Nuclear Deterrence. A Strategy for the 1980s, (New York: Columbia University Press, 1982). Feldman is a pupil of K. Waltz
See Edward Teller, “The Feasibility of Arms Control and the Principle of Openness” in D.G. Brennan (ed.), Arms Control, Disarmament and National Security, (G. Braziller, 1961) p. 134
The word “unnatural” is used, for instance, by J.Nye, “Prospects for Non-Proliferation” in R.W.Jones, C.Merlini, J.F.Pilat, and W.C.Potter, The Nuclear Supplies and Non-Proliferation, (Lexington, MA: Lexington Books, 1985) p. 219
“What the President Saw”, interview with R.Nixon, Time, (29 July 1985) p.43
Interview with H. Kissinger, La Stampa, 11 August 1985, p.5
Because of their technological capabilities, these countries can be called “potential problem countries”. I have developed the point in C.Merlini, “Problem Countries” in R.W.Jones, C.Merlini, J.F.Pilat, and W.C.Potter, op.cit., p. 155
For an analysis of control of nuclear weapons in Western Europe, see P.Cotta Ramusino, Il controllo delle armi nucleari in Italia, (Rome: CESPI, April 1985). I also received useful suggestions from M.Carnovale and M.De Andreis, IAI
High Frontier is the rightwing political movement that became famous because it came up with the SDI proposal which Reagan endorsed. See D.O.Graham, Project Director, High Frontier, We Must Defend America: A Strategy for National Survival, (Chicago: Regnery Gateway, 1983)
See C.Merlini, Audizione alla Commissionein (Affari Esteri) dalla Camera dei Deputati, IX Legislatura, Indagini conoscitivi e documentazioni legislative, Seduta antimeridiana di mercoledi; 9 ottobre 1985
See G.Allison, A.Carnasale, and J.Nye, “The Owls’ Agenda for Avoiding Nuclear War” in The Washington Quarterly, (Summer 1986)
See S. Nunn and S.W. Warner, “Reducing the Risk of Nuclear War” in The Washingtion Quarterly, (Spring 1984) p.3
See H. Bennendijk, “NATO’s Nuclear Modernization Dilemma”, Survival 3/4, (London: IISS, 1989)
Bettino Craxi, leader of the Italian Socialist Party, then also Prime Minister
H. Kissinger, “East Asia, the Pacific and the West: Strategic Trends and Implications”, Adelphi Paper, No. 216 (London: IISS)
The member countries of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand) have declared their territories programmatically free of nuclear weapons
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Merlini, C. (1990). The US-USSR Relationship and Its Likely Impact on Nuclear Proliferation. In: Fry, M.P., Keatinge, P., Rotblat, J. (eds) Nuclear Non-Proliferation. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75105-9_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-75105-9_14
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