Exam 11: Nuclear Proliferation

Explain the historical origins and logic of Mutual Assured Destruction.

What are the requirements for successful nuclear deterrence?

________________________ generally think that nuclear weapons helped prevent the United States and Soviet Union from going to war.

Neither the United States nor the Soviet Union was ever able to build a survivable nuclear retaliatory strike capability.

Both proponents and opponents of nuclear proliferation agree that

Nuclear deterrence requires

Advocates of limited nuclear proliferation believe that

Why do some think the world would be a better, safer place with more nuclear weapons and powers?

The existence of the nuclear umbrella might help explain why many United States allies have chosen not to acquire nuclear weapons.

Because it wants to retain its nuclear weapons, the United States has not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Opponents of nuclear proliferation agree than nuclear weapons helped preserve the Cold War peace.

A nuclear triad consists of weapons based on _________________, _________________, and _____________________.

Opponents of nuclear proliferation worry that it increases the danger of a nuclear _________________ to a non-state actor by a sympathetic regime.

_______________________ are nations with the ability to develop nuclear weapons but no desire/intent to do so.

Mutual Assured Destruction

Why does almost everyone agree that nuclear weapons in the hands of non-state actors are a much more dangerous problem than nuclear weapons in the hands of states?

The fear of having one's nuclear arsenal wiped out in an attack can lead to the adoption of _____________________ policies.

____________________, ___________________, ____________________, __________________, and ___________________ were allowed to keep their nuclear weapons even after signing the NPT.

Proliferation pessimists generally argue that

Proliferation optimists think that non-state actors with nuclear weapons could be deterred.