The Pros And Cons Of International Nuclear Proliferation

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In the contemporary political landscape, one of the most heavily discussed sociopolitical issues is international nuclear proliferation. From the rising nuclear threat in North Korea to the aggrandizement of potential terroristic threats, international relations specialists have long pondered how the fear perpetuated by the spread of nuclear weapons can be alleviated. As one can likely infer being that nuclear proliferation has not ceased, the conclusion to this dilemma cannot be met without serious contemplation. Being that different specialists operate under the pretenses of different international relations theories, there are a plethora of perspectives from which one could theorize about the two most paramount dilemmas when it comes to …show more content…

Surprisingly, this occurred quickly following the United States’ first nuclear test, as it happened less than one month after the Trinity test in New Mexico. In an attempt to explain why the nuclear strike occurred, Ryan Browne writes that “Japan was not ready to surrender unconditionally, and there was a concern that a weapons demonstration would have not done the job. Such a demonstration would have detonated a nuclear weapon in a non-inhabited but observable area to compel Japan to surrender” (2016). While some members of Truman’s administration proposed an invasion of Japan on the ground, others argued that it could prove to be very costly, as the bloodshed could take many American lives. It’s also worth noting that, at the time, Japanese Kamikaze attacks had rendered a psychological effect on many American military strategists by instilling fear that the Japanese would do whatever it took to preserve their home island. One could look at the nuclear strike on Hiroshima from two different perspectives: on one hand, it brought an end the bloody battles of World War II; on the other hand, it served as the catalyst for contemporary nuclear