The Non-Proliferation Treaty and Anatomy of American Non-Proliferation Policies

Abstract

The advent of the atomic age stir the threat of destruction over the humanity; creating a sense of insecurity because of the unbridle proliferation of nuclear weapons. The first use of the nuclear weapons in World War II forced the superpowers to apply the liberal philosophy in the Cold War era to avert the future use of nuclear weapons. The US as the sole possessor of nuclear weapons took the leading role in halting proliferation of nuclear weapons as it was the most important security concern of the international community after the war. In 1953, the American President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed the Atom for Peace Plan in the United Nations. Fears of diversion of nuclear technology for nuclear weapons’ development led to the establishment of the International Atomic Energy Agency. President Johnson proposed to stop the nuclear arms race by imposing checks and balances on nuclear commerce and peaceful nuclear activities. In 1960s, realist philosophy that survival is the ultimate goal of every state based on power maximization became the driving force for WMDs development. American attempts to stop nuclear proliferation are not successful as there are anomalies in its own policies.