Nuclear Weapons questions with correct answers

Who believes the Taboo or Non-Use tradition of nuclear weapons makes it safe? CORRECT ANSWER Deterrence is inadequate... A powerful taboo against the use of nuclear weapons has developed in the global system, which... has stigmatised nuclear weapons as unacceptable weapons. Nina Tannenwald, The United States and the Non-Use of Nuclear Weapons since 1945 (Cambridge: CUP, 2005). Background to problem of nuclear weapons? CORRECT ANSWER • 9 countries have access to nuclear weapons • Race for first nuclear weapon occurred following WW1 • First 16th July 1945 first nuclear weapon • 6th August 1945 Hiroshima - 15,000 tons of TNT - 146,000 deaths Nagasaki 400,000 deaths on first day • Total number of nuclear weapons has decreased 78% - US and Russia have the greatest share - US only nuclear weapon capable and can target anywhere in the world What is a deterrence? CORRECT ANSWER "deterrence is the threat of force in order to discourage an opponent from taking an unwelcome action, this can be achieved through the threat or retaliation, or by denying the opponents war aims" Waltz holds evidence for deterrence being positive Sagan suggests 'spread is not good' - nuclear weapons and organisations make inevitable mistakes more deadly Nina TannenWald - suggests there is a taboo/non-use tradition which makes the ownership of nuclear weapons safe - possession is not a problem as long as the taboo theory holds good - (taboo = is a limited truth, nuclear weapons carry some normative stigma)