It is undeniable that the nature of nuclear weapons has changed military and political relationships among states significantly. Thus, nowadays nuclear weapons are considered to be a traditional means of politics and security. It has been about seven decades since the only case when nuclear weapons were used on Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With each passing year the use of nuclear weapons has been very unlikely, and the idea of world without nuclear weapons is becoming stronger. However, threats of using them still continue, since states still rely heavily on such weapons and continue investing in development of their arsenals. Therefore, those actions are strongly criticized by people all around the globe since they think that …show more content…
Fission weapons are complex and require sophisticated engineering, however most states are capable of building them as well as some private groups. The difficulty lies under obtaining fissionable materials and plants to build those weapons. The uranium and plutonium bombs have been used ones each to destroy Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing 100,000 of civilians (Russett et al, 2004:239). Therefore, Dannreuther (2013:228) claims that fusion weapon derives its force from two small atoms which fuse together into a bigger atom. Fusion weapons are highly expensive and technically more complex than fission weapons: it can be obtained only by richest and most technologically advanced countries.
The effects of nuclear weapons are catastrophic. They include not only the blast of explosion that has an immediate destructive power, but also heat and radiation. There is a potential that a heat itself can create a firestorm in an area which was targeted, while radiation in large doses kills people and creates long-term sicknesses such as cancer. In addition, according to thebulletin.org (2015) nuclear weapons have an ability to create and electro-magnetic pulse (EMP) which destroys and disrupts electronic equipment. In the case of using a large amount of nuclear weapons at once (as in a war) would have an enormous effect on global climate- possibly a nuclear winter.
Nuclear weapons have been disliked by many, and some countries even stopped their
Another cause of the danger of nuclear weapons is improper storage and handling. The nuclear weapons could be accidently detonated in there silos or storage facilities. This can be a danger to the entire world. If a nuclear weapon is not stored in a safe matter many types of problems could arise. A perfect example of a nuclear accident was at the Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine. The Chernobyl accident was the result of a flawed reactor design that was operated inadequately by non-properly trained personal. The Chernobyl explosion was a very devastating explosion and only two workers died on the night of the accident. Over the course of a few weeks after the accident 28 people were reported dead from radiation sickness.
There are many nuclear bombing tests that happen throughout each year and it’s extremely unhealthy for the environment let alone if a nuclear war happened. According to scientists, even if a small percentage of the worlds nuclear bombs were set off during a war, it would have an extremely devastating effect on humanity (Jha). Temperatures would drop quickly because there would be so much black smoke in the air that the smoke would absorb
Two main theorists of international relations, Kenneth Waltz and Scott Sagan have been debating on the issue of nuclear weapons and the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the 21st century. In their book The Spread of Nuclear Weapons: An Enduring Debate, they both discuss their various theories, assumptions and beliefs on nuclear proliferation and nuclear weapons. To examine why states would want to attain/develop a nuclear weapon and if increasing nuclear states is a good or bad thing. In my paper, I will discuss both of their theories and use a case study to illustrate which theory I agree with and then come up with possible solutions of preventing a nuclear war from occurring.
Since the invention of nuclear weapons, they have presented the world with a significant danger, one that was shown in reality during the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, nuclear weapons have not only served in combat, but they have also played a role in keeping the world peaceful by the concept of deterrence. The usage of nuclear weapons would lead to mutual destruction and during the Cold War, nuclear weapons were necessary to maintain international security, as a means of deterrence. However, by the end of the Cold War, reliance on nuclear weapons for maintaining peace became increasingly difficult and less effective (Shultz, et. al, 2007). The development of technology has also provided increasing opportunities for states
The risk with keeping them could be tremendous. Some groups may do anything to gain possession of the weapons. However, in the U.S.A. nuclear weapons are guarded heavily and it would be virtually impossible to take one. Nonetheless, many countries do not guard their weapons as heavily as the U.S. In many countries, such as Russia, it would be very easy for one of these weapons to fall into the wrong hands. The only way to eliminate the risk is to disable the weapons. Nuclear weapons promote war and violence. One may argue that they do just the opposite. They help to maintain order and keep volatile nations at bay, through fear. But, volatile nations will feel the only way to combat other nations will be to develop the weapons. If volatile nation has nuclear weapons, it may be lulled into a false sense of invulnerability leading it to attack other nations regardless of the cost.
Nuclear Weapons have persisted to be the decisive deterrent to any assailant, and the best means of establishing peace. There are many different views on nuclear weapons, even though they cost an extravagate amount of money; they come with positive aspects’. In fact nuclear weapons are one of the greatest reasons that nations do not want to go to war, but alternately, strive to inquire clarification through negotiations. First and foremost, it is very important to analyze just how nuclear weapons prevent war.
Nuclear weapons have been a present factor in my lifetime, and in WWII the bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused thousands of deaths. Nuclear weapons are the most destructive, inhumane weapons ever created. Both in the scale of the devastation that they cause, and in their uniquely persistent, genetically damaging radioactive fallout, they are not like any other weapon. A single nuclear bomb detonated over a city could kill millions of people. The use of tens or hundreds of nukes would disrupt the world's climate, causing lots of famine.(Arguments for nuclear abolition)
Nuclear weapons provide a great and purposeful value clearly worth the time and money spent on them in the 1940’s. The research in nuclear weapons has lead to many discoveries and ideas that still influence the world today. These ideas have led to the
The first use of nuclear weaponry in warfare occurred on the morning of August 6, 1945 when the United States dropped the atomic bomb known as “Little Boy” on Hiroshima, Japan. The result was devastating, demonstrating the true power of nuclear warfare. Since the incident, the world has been left fearing the possible calamity of another nuclear war. Joseph Siracusa’s Nuclear Weapons: A Very Short Introduction explains aspects of nuclear weaponry from simply what a nuclear weapon is, to the growing fear from nuclear warfare advancements in an age of terrorism. The book furthered my education on nuclear weapons and the effect they place on society, physically and mentally.
Nuclear weapons have only ever been used once in human history, and that was during World War II when The United States deployed missiles on Japanese territory, in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. At the time of bombing in 1945 only the USA had developed nuclear weapons, whilst today the pool of states consisting of nuclear weapons is still extremely small, with only nine states laying claim to nuclear technology and weaponry. This nuclear proliferation is explained by Darryl Howlett who explains this as the worldwide spread of nuclear weapons. For Howlett states are nuclear driven because of the ‘strategic, political and prestige benefits’ attached to nuclear weapons[1]. In the
Over the course of time, the way war has been fought has evolved tremendously. From using swords and shields, ships, guns, submarines, planes, and eventually nuclear weapons. These nuclear weapons would prove to change the way the world works forever, as nuclear weapons turned into the ultimate threat.
A nuclear weapon is one that possess enormous destruction power derived from nuclear fission which is either a nuclear reaction or a radioactive decay that eventually lead to a massive release of a large amount of energy. Throughout history many nuclear weapons have been developed and used. Over time a simple scientific discovery has manifested itself into a massive and destructive yet very important piece of history that has greatly affected the world today.
When the topic of nuclear weapons, stockpiles, or power plants comes to the forefront, many people automatically associate nuclear materials to terrorist. Because of that association, people automatically think the only dangers faced are when nuclear materials are in the hands of the terrorist. However, that has been proved to be a false assumption as accidents at nuclear stockpiles and power plants pose a far greater danger to American security than the deliberate use of nuclear weapons by terrorist. Throughout the paper, arguments will be constructed backing up the previous statement. The paper will start with a basic understanding of fission and radiation to set the foundation of the basic knowledge of the science behind the subject. Then
The explosion of one nuclear bomb can cause mass devastation by increasing the radiation levels of our planet. There is a natural amount of radiation on earth that is in fact good for plant life, such as the radiation that produces light that allows plants to photosynthesize. However, radiation that occurs from nuclear warheads results in cellular mutations and the weakening of plants (Robock and Toon, 70). For example, in 1986, an uncontrolled release of radiation occurred at Chernobyl, a nuclear power plant in the Ukraine. This radiation ended up destroying over half of the plant life in that region. Animals can also be affected by high levels of radiation. Animals can develop gene mutations, increasing the chance of developing cancer which
Nuclear weapons are the most dangerous weapons on earth. One can demolish a whole city, potentially killing millions, and exposed the natural environment and lives of future generations through its long-term catastrophic effects. According to the UNODA- United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (2011), “Although nuclear weapons have only been used twice in warfare- in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945-about 22,000 reportedly remains in our world today and there have been over 2,000 nuclear tests conducted to date.” Nuclear weapons have been viewed as a threat to peace by world leaders. There have been debates of whether to let Iran and North Korea acquire nuclear weapons, leaders all around the world along with Liberals believe that it is a threat to peace and should limit the spread whereas neo realist have another belief that nuclear weapon can make the world a peaceful place. Because states would fear to attack each other. For example the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 and cold war- there were only threats and war did not happen because of nuclear deterrence. The Cuban missile crisis has frequently been portrayed as the only time where the world stood in the point of nuclear war between the superpowers. This is an example of how nuclear weapons were used to threaten the rival. Another examples would be that of India and Pakistan before they acquire nuclear weapon , they fought three bloody wars after having their independence but since 1998, after acquiring