Nuclear Arms Control: A Realistic Global Agenda

Abstract

The optimism of 2009–10 is fading, and political momentum is faltering, on new nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation measures. To re-energize the global arms control debate, it is important that advocates for change spell out action agendas which are realistic and capable of being embraced by all relevant players – not only civil society organizations, but the major nuclear-armed states and other significant state actors capable of applying peer group pressure. Disarmament advocacy, while continuing to stress complete elimination as the objective, should recognize the complex dynamics of particular pair relationships (including US–Russia, US–China, and India–Pakistan), and focus in the short and medium term on the “minimization” agenda: stabilization of, and major further reductions in, nuclear weapons stockpiles; dramatic reductions in weapons deployment and launch readiness; and universal acceptance of “No First Use” doctrine. Non-proliferation efforts need to focus not only on current break-out risks like Iran, but strengthening NPT compliance mechanisms, further building non-NPT treaties and arrangements like export controls, and winning industry and government support for proliferation-re Show more