Nuclear Commerce and U.S. Nonproliferation Policy: Controversial Nuclear Assistance by Allies

Open to the Public

When and under what conditions is U.S. nonproliferation policy successful towards allies that supply controversial nuclear assistance to third party states? This seminar, through focused comparison of cases of nuclear assistance since the 1970s, investigates the challenges posed by allied suppliers and the nuclear industry to U.S. nonproliferation policy.

Please join us! Coffee and tea provided. Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come–first served basis.

Date: Thu, Apr 7, 2016 Time: 12:15pm - 02:00pm Location: Littauer Building - Belfer Center Library, Room 369

Civaux nuclear power plant in the department of Vienne, France, October 9, 2004.

When and under what conditions is U.S. nonproliferation policy successful towards allies that supply controversial nuclear assistance to third party states?

This seminar, through focused comparison of cases of nuclear assistance since the 1970s, investigates the challenges posed by allied suppliers and the nuclear industry to U.S. nonproliferation policy. It highlights the presence of a multi-layered policy harmonization process—between the supplier government and its nuclear industry and between the United States and the allied government—in order to attain U.S. nonproliferation goals. The empirical evidence indicates that nonproliferation preferences of the political-bureaucratic elites in the supplier state constitute the key causal variable in determining policy outcomes with respect to continuing nuclear assistance. These preferences determine the policy outcome on nuclear supply especially following exogenous shocks that cause reassessment of proliferation risks and prior policies.

Please join us! Coffee and tea provided. Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come–first served basis.