Preventing Nuclear Entrepreneurship in Russia's Nuclear Cities

Abstract

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, concern that Russian nuclear weapons scientists could sell their expertise to the highest bidder or steal nuclear weapons or their components has risen dramatically. Sharon Weiner of Princeton University considers several ways to discourage these potential “nuclear entrepreneurs” from undertaking such efforts. In addition to calling for changes in U.S. nonproliferation programs that seek to create nonmilitary jobs for Russia’s idle nuclear weapons workers, Weiner recommends greater U.S. investment in public goods and services such as radioactive waste cleanup and research and development on a variety of nonproliferation activities.