NUCLEAR POWER AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS: THE TENUOUS LINK

In: COMPARATIVE STRATEGY, Band 3, Heft 1

Abstract

HISTORICAL RECORD DOES NOT SUBSTANTIATE THE LINK ASCRIBED BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR POWER FACILITIES AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAPABILITY. NUCLEAR WEAPONS HAVE INVARIABLY PRECEDED CIVILIAN POWER REACTORS. THIS QUESTIONABLE LINKAGE HAS DIRECT POLICY IMPLICATIONS FOR US NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION POLICY, WHICH HERETOFORE HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED BY SERIOUS INCONSISTENCIES.