Suchergebnisse

There is a widespread global commitment, at least in terms of political rhetoric, to the eventual abolition of all nuclear armouries. With a few notable exceptions, however, the subject for long periods attracted curiously little examination at a level that could be regarded as of truly serious objectivity. There has been a wide divergence between two polarised extremes: what might be called 'righteous abolitionists' pointed to the commitment and demanded that countries possessing these weapons should get on with disposing of them; 'dismissive realists' asserted that complete abolition is fanciful dreaming, and that the world must concentrate on managing their existence. There is broad and serious analytical work to be done, upon which widely different viewpoints could initially converge. The aim would be not to establish or advocate a programme of action, but simply to lay a better foundation of understanding upon which debate about prospects and options might be advanced. (Survival / SWP)