Nuclear Weapons and Disarmament (POLS90030)

This course will examine the origins of the drive for nuclear weapons, the history of the nuclear nonproliferation regime, and incentives and disincentives for nuclear proliferation, nonproliferation and disarmament.  Students will analyse current nuclear weapons states, “threshold” states, and states that purposefully chose to forgo nuclear weapons development – as well as the importance of non-state actors who seek to influence these states. The course will also explore the contemporary disarmament debate to shed light on the major obstacles to nuclear disarmament and possible paths around them.  Finally, students will evaluate future trends in nuclear politics, from increasing polarization in the nuclear global governance to the growing awareness of devastating humanitarian consequences of possible nuclear use.