How effective were attempts during the 1960s to control the development and
proliferation of nuclear weapons?
Cambridge International AS/A Level – October/November 2016
Depth Study 3: International History, 1945–1991
Syllabus 9389
Paper 41
At the beginning of the 1960s attempts to control the Proliferation and development of nuclear
weapons were largely seen as ineffective or absent. For example, in 1960 and 1967 France and
China tested their first nuclear weapons without any repercussions. In the same decade, due to
the lack of development and proliferation restrictions, The USSR, China and France then
developed their own hydrogen bombs. Moreover, Israel were well on the way to gaining the
technology to produce its own atomic bomb due to the support of Great Britain and France.
Treaties such as the ‘Partial Test Ban Treaty’ and the ‘Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty’
primarily failed as they both did not reduce the proliferation of Nuclear weapon intelligence. On
the other hand, treaties such as the Hotline agreement in 1963 and the ‘Outer Space Treaty’ in
1967 helped reduce the development and spread of nuclear weapons. Furthermore, countries
such as Japan and those in Latin America agreeing not to develop nuclear weapons helped
reduce their spread. Ultimately, the first ‘SALT’ agreements in 1969 effectively reduced the
development, amount and spread of nuclear weapons.
Even though most attempts during the 1960s were ineffective some countries and treaties still
managed to reduce the development of nuclear weapons. In January 1965 the USSR began their
programme to peacefully study the use of nuclear explosions. They carried out many tests in
Chagan to see an alternate use of nuclear weapons such as creating canals, excavating,
powering their space crafts and much more. Two years later the ‘Outer Space Treaty’, which all
main countries signed including the USA and USSR, banned the testing and stationing of nuclear
weapons in space. This reduced the chances of a nuclear war as well as helped save money and
resources which could now be spent on improving their own economies and helping their
populations. The first ‘SALT’ talks which took place in 1969 were largely successful and were the
beginning to a safer world. They limited the number of strategic ballistic missiles that the USA
and USSR could have. Furthermore, it ordered the dismantling of ICBMs and a maximum of only
50 SLBM capable submarines and 800 missiles between them. The agreement also forced both
sides to remove all ICBMs that threatened eithers’ Northern borders.
The proliferation of nuclear weapons was also effectively controlled due to the formation of the
‘Hotline Agreement’, the same year as the Cuban Missile Crisis. It allowed for the USA and USSR
to communicate and come to a decision if an event such as Cuba were to ever repeat itself. It
reduced the chances of either side spreading their nuclear weapon technology as they had
learnt that it would inevitably lead to ‘Mutually Assured Destruction’. The signing of the ‘Treaty
of Tlatelolco’ in 1967 aimed to prohibit nuclear weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean to
reduce the recurrence of another Cuban Missile Crisis. It was largely effective as it banned the
testing, installation, storage and possession of nuclear weapons even to this day. In December
proliferation of nuclear weapons?
Cambridge International AS/A Level – October/November 2016
Depth Study 3: International History, 1945–1991
Syllabus 9389
Paper 41
At the beginning of the 1960s attempts to control the Proliferation and development of nuclear
weapons were largely seen as ineffective or absent. For example, in 1960 and 1967 France and
China tested their first nuclear weapons without any repercussions. In the same decade, due to
the lack of development and proliferation restrictions, The USSR, China and France then
developed their own hydrogen bombs. Moreover, Israel were well on the way to gaining the
technology to produce its own atomic bomb due to the support of Great Britain and France.
Treaties such as the ‘Partial Test Ban Treaty’ and the ‘Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty’
primarily failed as they both did not reduce the proliferation of Nuclear weapon intelligence. On
the other hand, treaties such as the Hotline agreement in 1963 and the ‘Outer Space Treaty’ in
1967 helped reduce the development and spread of nuclear weapons. Furthermore, countries
such as Japan and those in Latin America agreeing not to develop nuclear weapons helped
reduce their spread. Ultimately, the first ‘SALT’ agreements in 1969 effectively reduced the
development, amount and spread of nuclear weapons.
Even though most attempts during the 1960s were ineffective some countries and treaties still
managed to reduce the development of nuclear weapons. In January 1965 the USSR began their
programme to peacefully study the use of nuclear explosions. They carried out many tests in
Chagan to see an alternate use of nuclear weapons such as creating canals, excavating,
powering their space crafts and much more. Two years later the ‘Outer Space Treaty’, which all
main countries signed including the USA and USSR, banned the testing and stationing of nuclear
weapons in space. This reduced the chances of a nuclear war as well as helped save money and
resources which could now be spent on improving their own economies and helping their
populations. The first ‘SALT’ talks which took place in 1969 were largely successful and were the
beginning to a safer world. They limited the number of strategic ballistic missiles that the USA
and USSR could have. Furthermore, it ordered the dismantling of ICBMs and a maximum of only
50 SLBM capable submarines and 800 missiles between them. The agreement also forced both
sides to remove all ICBMs that threatened eithers’ Northern borders.
The proliferation of nuclear weapons was also effectively controlled due to the formation of the
‘Hotline Agreement’, the same year as the Cuban Missile Crisis. It allowed for the USA and USSR
to communicate and come to a decision if an event such as Cuba were to ever repeat itself. It
reduced the chances of either side spreading their nuclear weapon technology as they had
learnt that it would inevitably lead to ‘Mutually Assured Destruction’. The signing of the ‘Treaty
of Tlatelolco’ in 1967 aimed to prohibit nuclear weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean to
reduce the recurrence of another Cuban Missile Crisis. It was largely effective as it banned the
testing, installation, storage and possession of nuclear weapons even to this day. In December
