The book, edited by Manpreet Sethi, brings together diverse group of experts from various fields and they provide in-depth analysis on the current nuclear landscape. Their contributions are important insights in understanding nuclear policies, examining the challenges and future prospects that arise from nuclear energy, non-proliferation and disarmament. The book is divided into three main sections: nuclear energy, non-proliferation and disarmament, respectively. Each section contains comprehensive approach to address critical aspects of nuclear policy.
Nuclear Energy
The author makes the case that nuclear energy can offer a workable answer to the intricate environmental problems that humanity faces, and that these difficulties are not insurmountable. Following the nuclear accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan in 2011, the book explores the nuclear energy reality. Numerous nation countries choose to halt and deactivate their nuclear power reactors after the incident. It argues that the reason that half of reactors permanently shut down after Fukushima incident was not because of technical limitations but due to fazed out political policies and the failure to recognize the importance of on-demand, low carbon, reliable nuclear power.
Brief history of India’s nuclear power program shows that despite the strong backing of political parties, the development of nuclear sector has been slow. This is due to the international embargoes, public mistrust and anti-nuclear protests in the country, lack of transparency and communication, project delays and cost overruns, land acquisition problems and economic status of the country. India will soon overtake EU and become the world’s third largest energy consumer and is now third largest CO2 emitter in the world. India has a long history of research and development in nuclear technology. However, it is important to address the domestic challenges.
The challenges that traditional nuclear reactors face are being answered by the idea of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). These are receiving considerable governmental backing in the hope that they will prove their commercial viability. It is estimated that nearly 21 Gigawatts of electricity may be globally generated by 2035 through SMRs. SMRs are a new type of nuclear reactor that is smaller and more modular than traditional reactors. They have a capacity of about 300 MWe or less, compared to the 1,000 to 1,600 MW capacity of traditional reactors. This makes them more affordable and easier to deploy. Several countries are developing SMRs and collaborating efforts towards this. Russia remains the frontrunner, being the only country to made such a reactor operational. A particular reason for Russia to develop these reactors is to provide power to its far-flung countries. China, Argentina, USA, UK, Canada, France, Czech Republic, Estonia, Ukraine and Poland are among the other countries that are working towards development of SMRs.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation
In this section, the author analyzed the nuclear doctrines recognized by Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the vertical nuclear proliferation trends of nuclear weapon states. Keeping in view all the aspects, author states that the road to full arms control agreement seems to be full of hurdles.
The book discusses Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in detail and examines P5 countries role and contribution towards NPT goals. It discusses the new developments in the global nuclear landscape like the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The global nuclear order is undergoing significant changes, as P5 countries continue to modernize and develop their nuclear arsenals. Meanwhile, communication between nuclear-weapon states (NWS) and non-nuclear-weapon states (NNWS) remains strained. In order to retain the success of non-proliferation, there is a need to build bridges between NWS and NNWS.
International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) has highlighted that the AUKUS would ultimately lead to militarization race in the Asian region, with setting a new precedent for acquiring nuclear powered submarines. The author describes IAEA as an association that works as the World’s watchman and keep it safe from a nuclear catastrophe. Author has highlighted that while India remains concerned about issues like foreign policy interference and economic coercion, it recognizes that AUKUS will strengthen the Indo-Pacific region’s military and technical capabilities.
Author analyzed the trends of nuclear missile development in the South Asian region from the past 10 years. These trends show that all countries are working towards development of emerging technologies in order to counter the threat posed by other regional actors. The focus is on capability building keeping in view the continuously modernizing neighbor in terms of nuclear technology. US-China relations directly influence the dynamics of South Asia, so US can play a significant role here.
Author claims that the nuclear discourse seems to be moving from the era of security by nuclear weapons to security of nuclear weapons. Terrorism remains one the most challenging threat to counter even after two decades of 9/11. The possibility of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists has been a long-standing concern among strategists. The probability that terrorist could get and exploit nuclear bomb can never be reduced to zero but it can be countered if countries unanimously acknowledge the fact that terrorist threat to nuclear weapons exist, instead of just claiming that their nuclear arsenal is safe and secure.
Nuclear Disarmament
Throughout history, societies have employed either deterrence or capitulation to prevent wars. Nuclear deterrence is discussed in detail as a psychological term and the breakdown of deterrence in the Indian nuclear context is explained in terms of Sino-Indian and Indo-Pak aspects. If the Sino-Indian and Indo-Pak geopolitical tensions remain unresolved, there is a risk that conventional deterrence could break down and force would be used. Author argues that war avoidance is the possible way forward for all the three countries involved. The solution lies in the political realization that the utility of force is limited under the nuclear shadow.
Author states that, the current state of play of nuclear disarmament remains a complex web of two steps forward and one step backward. All the permanent members of UNSC issued a collective statement at the start of 2022 that a nuclear war cannot be won and it must not be fought, providing hope for nuclear disarmament. The lack of implementation by P5 countries on the nuclear disarmament mandated by the NPT has eroded their image in front of NNWS. Due to this several civil society organizations and non-state actors have taken the lead on the disarmament campaigns, their role is discussed comprehensively in the book. Nuclear disarmament is undermined by super powers trying to modernize their own nuclear arsenal and denying others to develop the nuclear technology.
The optimism that the 2022 statement by P5 countries generated was dissipated with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine Conflict. Efforts to conflict resolution are bleak and the talks about use of nuclear weapon by Russia are surfacing in the current scenario. The last chapter of the book examines the impact of these recent developments on the nuclear disarmament and the trends that would emerge from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Author states that threat of nuclear weapons for the mankind is similar to the climate change crisis, posing an existential danger.
Conclusion:
The book provides a comprehensive overview of the global nuclear landscape in domains of nuclear energy, non-proliferation and disarmament. It explains the importance of nuclear energy in generating clean electricity along with the threats posed to global stability by the vertical proliferation, modernizing of nuclear arsenal and the pursuit of nuclear disarmament. Contributors of the book provide insightful information in the field of nuclear technology and the book is an important read for the scholars, analysts and students of International relations interested in nuclear realm.
