Preventing Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: Hopes and Realities

Abstract

The dangers of nuclear weapons to mankind and to the survival of human civilization has been recognized almost immediately after their use in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The United States had a monopoly on these weapons until the Soviet Union exploded its first atom bomb in 1949, marking the start of a nuclear arms race between the two major powers. The proponents of the development of the H-bomb by the United States believed that if the USSR got there first, it would acquire “world supremacy”. So, the USA exploded its H-bomb in 1952 and the USSR followed in 1953. The USA was concerned to match what they feared the USSR might do. The USSR then proceeded to match what the USA had done. Nuclear weapons became a symbol of power. Eugene Rostov, the previous head of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, once said “The nuclear weapon is primarily a political, not a military force — a potent political force, generating currents of opinions which are transforming our world”¹. The United Kingdom in turn exploded its atom bomb in 1952 and its H-bomb in 1960, followed by France which exploded its atom bomb in 1960 and its H-bomb in 1968. China exploded its atom bomb in 1964 and its H-bomb in 1967.