Nuclear proliferation in Third World countries: is nuclear proliferation inevitable?

Abstract

Some potential nuclear powers are very much interested in going nuclear mainly because of their apprehensions of security. Alternatives for their security, such as security guarantee and/or conventional arms sales by the superpowers, are lacking credibility. Although nuclear weapons cannot guarantee everything, they can give the countries a better chance of securing their very existence and of decreasing their dependency on other countries. Almost all nuclear weapons-related technologies are within their reach. The by-products of nuclearization are endurable or even attractive to the countries. They not only can afford the cost for the nuclear weapons system but also can manage it strategically effectively. The potential nuclear powers in general and some of them which are living in the fear of aggressive enemies' military superiority in particular keep nuclear options open to meet some contingencies although they are trying to conceal their progress for nuclearization. More proliferation is a matter of time.