The invention and potential consequences of nuclear weapons possession among states in international society Introduction to International Relations Hyun-Sug Kang

Introduction to Nuclear Weapons One of the deadly substances is used for weapons of mass destruction –Harmful substance Lethal and devastating activities to mankind An ability to wipe out entire populations of cities, or possibly states Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing attacks..

Impact of Nuclear Weapon activities in the past Due to Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings Japan has spent an enormous amount of funds to recover after mass of nuclear bombings –Restoring city infrastructures –Financial aids to victims across generations –Many short/long term health problems due to the radiation exposure created by nuclear explosion for generations Dealt with many problems in various social contexts decades after the bombing..

1a) What are the implications of invention of nuclear weapons for international security? Its usage lies with eradicating a state poising a significant challenge to the international peace/security However it can also produce a high casualty rate of countless innocent lives and negative influences in society

Kenneth Waltz’s perspective “More may better” According to Kenneth Waltz, –Conventional world VS. Nuclear world –As seen in the past history, exercising nuclear activities is devastating –Thus, nuclear weapn possession would inhibit military conflicts among states –Thus, the gradual spread of nuclear weapons highly recommended to prevent the conflicts among states –And to foster peace in international society

Kenneth Waltz’s perspective “More may better” (Con’t) Underlying assumptions of Waltz –No war upon the nuclear weapon possession Will reduce the military conflicts among states Will allow maintaining order and peace in international society –Because of the negative consequence of its activities as has seen in the past –No state will like to follow what Japan has gone through

Kenneth Waltz’s perspective “More may better” (Con’t) The nuclear possession is a good phenomenon in the absence of its activities Thus, the possession of nuclear weapons is favored over dispossession/vertical possession

1 b) Do nuclear weapons have pacifying effects as Waltz argues?

Escalates tension and fear among states The Cold War –No war but a heavy competition of nuclear arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union India-Parkistan Nuclear Rivalry –Fear and tension mounted in citizens in/around the border of India-Pakistan –Hampered diplomatic negotiations between states North Korea threat to the East Asia –China, and Japan kept vigilant –Closest Allies such the U.S and European states also keenly monitor the Korean peninsula situation

Economic downturn via adapting nuclear weapon strategy Implementing nuclear weapon strategy is expensive Great Depression during the cold war era –Caused by excessively amount of funds to nuclear arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union Economic downturn the post 9/11 era –Caused by excessively amount of funds to nuclear weaponry based national security –Funding to other sectors significantly reduced due to the nature of fixed budget

Cost of adapting nuclear weapon strategies 9/11 attack

Conclusions/Answers to 1b) Waltz arguments cannot be fully validated based on real world examples Fail to account for the tension as a nature product of interactions from macro to mirco levels –States, groups and individuals “More may better” would produce many pitfalls in various social contexts –Tension, fear, economy and etc…