Role of Nuclear Weapons in Post-World War II Peace Cycle - Essay Example

? Role of Nuclear Weapons in Post-World War II Peace Cycle Background The Second World War ended with two significant incidents which shook the civilized world. This was the killing of six million unarmed Jewish civilians and the killing of tens of thousands of people in the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki1. These two incidents led to important things that changed the world in totality. First of all, the allied powers who defeated the Japanese and Nazi forces sought to create a new world order that would preserve human rights and prevent the killing of innocent people in the future2 The second feature of the Post-World War II period was the need to control weapons of mass destruction to prevent serious civilian deaths and casualties3. In order to assure these fundamental targets are met, the nations of the world formed the United Nations which was a global organization with the obligation of protecting individual rights and the need for people to get a good life wherever they lived4. The United Nations formed a framework through which nations could deal with each other peacefully and eschew violence and widespread human rights abuses. Unlike its predecessor [the League of Nations], the United Nations was made up of two main tiers: the General Assembly and the Security Council5. The Security Council was made up of five permanent members who were allied nations that had worked together to defeat Nazi Germany: Britain, China, France, United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics6. Currently, global peace revolves around the United Nations and the negotiations between nations and their neighbors. The scope of destruction that the atomic bomb created was unprecedented. Due to this, ammunition like the atomic bomb, collectively classified as weapons of mass destruction (WMD) has become an important aspect of global security. This paper examines the ways through which nuclear weapons and its proliferation by nations have affected the peace cycle in the world after World War II. Nuclear Diplomacy The period after World War II led to a phase that has been described as the era of nuclear diplomacy. This is because the use of nuclear weapons have created the framework within which rivalry between nations have been formed. The nuclear weapons have guided the kind of discussions and tensions that have existed around the world to-date. “Since the dawn of the nuclear age at Hiroshima in 1945, states have conditional diplomacy in the shadow of the bomb”7. In actual fact, a major war was ended through the use of the atomic bomb. Due to this, it is used as a potential for bargaining. This is because the possession of nuclear weapons seems to present a nation as a strong nation that cannot be challenged. In other words, the possession of nuclear weapons creates a bargaining leverage for nations which enables them to bargain on the backdrop of the risk of planetary destruction8. This is because any attempt to launch a Third World War could lead to the launching of nuclear weapons which could destroy the entire planet. US Monopoly Throughout history, the United States is the only country that has ever used a weapon of mass destruction in war. After World War II, the United States wielded a monopoly over nuclear weapons until the Soviet Union came to overtly possess nuclear weapons. Fearing the abuse and the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the United States was the first nation that sought to control the use of nuclear weapons for military purposes. “In his first attempt to bring nuclear weapons under control, Eisenhower emphasized the potential benefits of nuclear energy rather than its destructive potential”9. Eisenhower launched the Atoms-For-Peace campaign in 1953 with the hope of creating an atomic energy bank which will enable nations to pursue nuclear energy in place of nuclear weapons. This was to lead to cooperation with friendly nations. However, the Soviet Union rejected this initiative. They were not satisfied with the idea of the United States controlling nuclear weapons whilst they controlled mere nuclear energy. This led to the creation of the struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union who also created a system of peaceful cooperation with friendly nations. The Bi-Polar Race: USA V USSR Originally, the USSR was deliberately excluded from the Manhattan Project which led to the development of the atomic bomb. However, Soviet scientists had discussed fission and the creation of a bomb that could work like the atomic bomb in 193910. The Soviets acquired a uranium reactor to further their research into the bomb but due to war time pressures, they abandoned it. They got close to creating the atomic bomb in 1946 but they completed a successful test in 194911. This means that the Soviet Union was the only country that had the capacity to create atomic bombs independently. Clearly, the United States and Soviet Union became the only nations that could independently create nuclear bombs. The United States developed the hydrogen bomb which was much stronger than the atomic bomb in 1952 this was followed by the Soviets who developed a version of the hydrogen bomb in 195312. After this, the United States and Soviet Union got into a nuclear race which was marked by the two countries trying to outwit each other in the stockpiling of nuclear weapons. Although the Attlee administration of Britain launched a secret project to creating an atomic bomb, it was made public in the 1950s13. Britain mobilized South Africa and Australia who were former colonies and dominions and had huge stocks of uranium which Britain lacked under its nuclear scope. This enabled Britain to gain some kind of independence from their American colleagues. However, as Britain lost its colonies and began to lose her domination in the world of global politics, the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union began to take the center-stage. This means that world peace was based on these two superpowers and how they carried out their activities. Also, it must be pointed out that the atomic bomb was a major factor that entrenched the position and power of these two new superpowers. As the United States was seeking to promote peaceful use of nuclear technology with friendly nations, the Soviets was also doing the same and was seeking to expand its sphere in the world. However, another school of thought indicates that the acquisition of nuclear weapons reduces, rather than increases security14. This is because nations seek to get allies nearby so that they can site their nuclear projects there for defensive purposes. Also, nations become concerned that their enemies could get allies close to them in order to set up nuclear stations so close that they might become endangered. Through the quest to expand, the United States led the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) which mobilized Western nations and other allied countries. The Soviet Union expanded its hold over Eastern Europe, China and the rest of Asia. This quest for allies by both the Soviets and the Americans culminated in the Korean War of 1953 which led to the division of the two Koreas and the siting of nuclear weapons in North Korea to protect the Soviet Union and then the Vietnam war which was waged with the support of nuclear China which was once under the impetus of the Soviet Union. In conclusion, the United States and the Soviet Union became tensed enemies because of nuclear weapons. First of all, they were the only two nations who could independently create nuclear weapons after the Second World War. Secondly, the two nations sought to maintain their security by extending their influences around the world through alliances and connections. The two nations' need to control nuclear weapons and get allies led to skirmishes, proxy wars [mainly in Third World countries] which shaped the Cold War which dominated the world between 1953 and 1991. The Spread of Nuclear Weapons and its Implications In 1957, the Soviet Union sent a sample atomic bomb to China and in 1958, Chen Yi, China's foreign minister announced that China was aiming to become a nuclear power15. After the Sino-Soviet relationship got strained in the early 1960s, China had the potential to create its own nuclear weapons. In 1962, President Kennedy sought to make concessions to China after he realized that the relationship between China and the Soviet Union was strained16. The idea was to prevent China from getting too much power and the potential to become autonomous. However, Mao Zhedong refused to bow to American pressure and China developed nuclear potential in 1964. France, the last member of the United Nations' Security Council refused to sign the anti-test ban in 1963. This paved the way for them to own nuclear weapons. Again, in 1968, the refused to sign further limitation treaties. In effect, all the five members of the UN Security Council had nuclear weapons by 1965. Thus, there was a mutual respect that all the nations on the Security Council enjoyed. Thus, the nations on the Security Council had fears of launching unnecessary wars against each other. This is because any nation that did what was wrong was risking a nuclear warfare which could lead to mass destruction and major casualties. From some angle, the fact that all the top members of the United Nations had nuclear capability means that nations took the need to resolve disagreement through peaceful means more seriously. This is because there was a major threat that any nation that displeased another major nation could cause a severe difficulty for humanity. World War I began when Serbs [allied directly to the Russians who were in turn allied to the British and French], assassinated an Austria-Hungarian prince. Being a subjugated nation in the Austria-Hungarian Empire, the Austria-Hungarian nation set out to begin a punitive expedition on the Serbs. Clearly, this expedition was against the rights of the vast majority of Serbs who had no connection to the murder. The Serbs called on their allies, the Russians. The Austria-Hungarians called on their German Allies and this domino effect went on until the whole world was at war. Faraway nations like the Ottoman Empire [present-day Turkey] and the United States eventually got called to action in this remote conflict that began in Serbia. However, in a post-World War II world, the fact that all the powerful nations had nuclear weapons changed the situation significantly. This is because all the nations had weapons that could cause major destruction to civilians. Applying those conditions to the Serbian situation that sparked up World War I, Austria-Hungary would have been much more careful in attacking the Serbs because they would have known that Russia had nuclear capabilities which they could launch into Vienna or any other Austrian city. Also, Russia would have known that firing such a weapon would put Russian civilian position in danger because Austria-Hungary's allies like Germany would have retaliated. This would have had an effect on Britain and France who were allied to them. In effect, a small case involving the murder of a Prince would have caused the deaths of hundreds of millions of people through the nuclear bombs. Due to this, it was likely that the matter would have been resolved through dialog. This shows that the nuclear weapons promoted peaceful coexistence rather than the wrongful use of force. Nuclear Threats & other Smaller Nations After 1965, it was customary to accept that all the five permanent members of the UN Security Council could own nuclear weapons. However, there was the need to control smaller nations and prevent them from building nuclear capabilities. This led to the creation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968. Nations who signed up agreed not to produce nuclear weapons or disarm and also promote the peaceful use of nuclear power17. Most nations around the world signed it on one level or the other. However, Israel, Pakistan and India refused to sign it whilst North Korea opted out in 200318. In the early 1960s, the United States supported an attempt by Cuban dissidents to enter Cuba and overthrow the Communist [pro-Soviet] government of Fidel Castro. This attempt failed and Cuba built stronger links with the Soviet Union. In October 1962, American spy planes detected Soviet missiles that could launch nuclear warheads into the United States in Cuba19. Cuba was just 90 miles away from the United States. This led to a serious crisis which is now known as the Cuban Missile crisis. The Soviets demanded the removal of American missiles from Turkey which was also close to Soviet targets20. Eventually, the Soviet Union decided to withdraw the missiles on condition that the United States would not invade Cuba to attempt to topple the regime. This guarantee was kept by the United States and the Castro regime continues to exist in Cuba to-date. This shows that nuclear bombs and nuclear capabilities are a major bargaining chip in international matters. The East-West Conflict & Diplomacy The possession of nuclear weapons, championed by the United States and USSR led to a situation of mutual respect between the two nations. This led to a series of treaties which was meant to regulate the control of nuclear activities. The first was the Austrian State Treaty in which the Soviets and Americans agreed to co-exist peacefully. However, the two parties sought to gain ground and get more influence and power around the world. In March 1962, the Disarmament Conference was held in Geneva. However, the Cuban missile crises led to the creation of a Washington-Moscow hotline which was meant to provide instant communication between the President of the United States and the head of the Soviet Union at all times. Through this, it was hoped that conflicts and issues that were serious, could be resolved before they got out of hand. Nuclear bomb issues were one of the most important and sensitive issues that this hotline sought to attain. In August 1963, the Partial Test made it illegal to release nuclear materials from weapon tests into the atmosphere. Such tests were to be carried out underground. This created a framework for more responsible testings and operation of such weapons. In November 1969, the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) was commenced between the USSR and USA to find a way of cutting down the nuclear arms race between the two superpowers. The talks were meant to get the major superpowers to cut down on their nuclear arms. These talks moved into SALT I which enabled the parties to discuss further cuts in 1972. Current Concerns To-date, all the members of the UN Security Council have been prudent in their possession of nuclear weapons. Peace has been preserved through these weapons and no nation has had the need to use its nuclear capabilities. However, nations like India and Pakistan who both refused to sign the treaty continue to possess nuclear weapons. These nations seem to have a mutual nuclear arms race. Aside using it against each other as a deterrent, the Indian-Pakistani nuclear situation is not very serious. Israel has been accused of possessing nuclear weapons. However, the Israeli government has denied this. Israel is faced by a permanent threat from the Arab world. And there is a large number of Israelis who hold American citizenship. This means that there is some kind of justification for Israel to have nuclear weapons to deal with major threats. However, Israel hardly attacks first. Thus, the Israeli situation is not a cause of major concern. The two most problematic nuclear issues in the world today are the issues of Iran and North Korea. North Korea had originally signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. However, they opted out in 2003. Due to the situation of Soviet nuclear weapons in the country, the leadership has access to nuclear weapons and this is a threat in the Korean Peninsula and neighboring nations. Iran is accused of trying to develop nuclear capabilities. With a radical Islamist regime that is classified as a state-sponsor of terrorists, Iran is a major cause of concern around the Middle East. This is because Iran has come out to say publicly that Israel must be wiped off the face of the map. Iran is known to sponsor Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist groups that target Israel. There is also tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which is an American ally. Due to this, the world is speaking up against the Iranian nuclear ambition. However, reports show that they are getting closer to creating nuclear weapons. Conclusion The main vehicle for peace in global affairs in the Post World War II world is the United Nations which seeks to promote dialog amongst nations and human rights amongst individuals. The development of the atomic bomb made the United States a super power at the end of the Second World War. Realizing the danger of using the atomic bomb, the United States sought a peaceful usage of nuclear capabilities. However, the Soviet Union refused to follow them and went ahead to develop their own nuclear capabilities. This led to a bipolar global order, led by the US and USSR. In order to promote security, both nations sought to gain allies around the world who would help them to prevent nuclear attacks. This trend created the Cold War which has been the main conflict over the past 60 years. The Cold War prevented a major global war because of the potential of nuclear bombs to destroy the world. Nuclear weapons have been kept for deterrence purposes over the past 60 years. It has promoted diplomacy and dialog as a means of solving problems. Although the two nations led the nuclear arms race, the other UN Security Council members gained access to nuclear power. Some other nations, namely Israel, India and Pakistan are suspected to have nuclear capability. Although this creates a threat, none of them have been able to use their potential. 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