Nuclear Proliferation and the Psychology of Political Leadership: Beliefs, Motivations and Perceptions

ISBN-13: 9780415855525 / Angielski / Twarda / 2014 / 236 str.

Kelly P. O'Reilly

Opis

This book offers a novel approach to understanding the puzzle of nuclear proliferation by examining how leaders' beliefs and perceptions about the international system influence states' decisions to acquire nuclear weapons. The catalyst for this book is the persisting dilemma the spread of nuclear weapons presents for both practitioners and scholars of international affairs. Uncertainty remains whether determined proliferators can be stopped, as shown the cases of North Korea and Iran. These instances of proliferation raise questions about regional stability, the potential use of pre-emptive military action, and the potential for reactive-proliferation by neighboring countries. Despite the serious implications surrounding the spread of these weapons, the proliferation scholarship has thus far failed to solve what has been described as the proliferation puzzle- why do some countries choose nuclear weapons while others do not? The author argues that understanding basic psychological motivations provide answers about a leader's willingness to proliferate, be it a quest for power or out of fear of others.Proliferation willingness is a critical, yet frequently overlooked, part of the proliferation equation. Ultimately, it is the pairing of willingness along with proliferation opportunity (i.e. technical and scientific capabilities) that determines whether a country 'goes nuclear'. By examining several historical instances of proliferation decision-making-in South Africa, India, Libya and Australia-the book's findings highlight the fundamental role of leaders' beliefs in shaping proliferation outcomes. This book will be of much interest to students of nuclear proliferation, political psychology, security studies and IR in general.

Spis treści

1. The Persisting Proliferation Dilemma 2. Analyzing Nuclear Proliferation Decisions 3. South Africa: The Apartheid Bomb 4. India: Crossing the Lakshman Rekha 5. Australia: Waltzing with Atomic Matilda 6. Libya: A Rogue Redeemed? 7. Conclusions: Perceptions on Proliferation

O autorze

K.P. O’Reilly is a Political Risk Analyst at Northwest Passage Capital Advisors, Greater Milwaukee Area, WI, USA.