28 September to 5 October
Bullying in the Nuclear World
The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which entered into force in 1970 and comes up for 5 yearly review in the United Nations next year, is intended to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. Signatory states that do not possess such weapons, promise not to obtain them while those that do have them - the nuclear weapons states (NWS) promise to:
.pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament'.
Currently 189 countries, including five of the NWS - the US, UK, France, Russia, and China, are party to the treaty. Three others - India, Pakistan and Israel, are not members, and North Korea withdrew from the treaty in 2003, before conducting a nuclear test in 2006.
Frustrated by lack of progress, non-nuclear weapons states accuse the NWS of failing to pursue nuclear disarmament 'in good faith', and view the development of new nuclear weapons, including the UK's Trident replacement programme, as unethical. By denying others the right to join their nuclear club, states that already possess weapons of mass destruction retain their special status, and arguably exhibit many of the characteristics of the playground bully.
Dave Webb, Professor of Engineering and Gavin Fairbairn, Professor of Ethics and Language.