The role of international arms control and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the post cold-war era

Abstract

This was the answer one of the most prominent figures in scientific history when he was asked about how wars would he fought should they take place with the use of weapons of mass destruction. In 1945, nuclear weapons were used for the first time in Japan causing devastation and death on a large scale. Ever since then, the technology has advanced so rapidly that the power and effectiveness of these weapons has more than doubled. The first nuclear bomb that fell over Hiroshima had a yield of 12-15kt, while the most powerful nuclear explosive, which was detonated by the Soviet Union, had a yield of 50Mt (50,000kt). Due to the arms race that was taking place during the Cold War between the United States of America and the Soviet Union, the international community sought to stop the ever expanding capabilities of the two superpowers. To do this a number of Agreements and Treaties were agreed upon in order to restrict the development, production, stockpiling, prnli1eiatrnn and usage 01' weapons of mass destruction. However, while these Treaties and Agreements have been signed by most states party to them, there have been a number of others states that have tried to go against the principles set out in them in order to become, for example, a nuclear powered state. Some states have even withdrawn or threatened to withdraw from such Treaties.