"If the militarily most powerful - and least threatened - states need nuclear weapons for their security, how can one deny such security to countries that are truly insecure? The present nuclear policy is a recipe for proliferation. It is a policy for disaster"
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Joseph Rotblat's quote critically takes a look at the paradox and intrinsic dangers in global nuclear policy, especially highlighting the ethical and practical disparities it provides. Rotblat, a physicist and a Nobel Peace Reward laureate, acknowledged the existential risk presented by nuclear weapons and was a singing advocate for disarmament.
In his declaration, Rotblat challenges the rationale behind nuclear weaponry preserved by effective, stable countries. He argues that if these countries, which deal with minimal existential risks due to their powerful standard military abilities, claim a requirement for nuclear weapons for security, it realistically suggests that less protected, more susceptible countries have an even higher reason to pursue them. This produces a double basic where the security requirements of powerful countries are prioritized over those of smaller sized or less stable states. It questions the fairness and sustainability of a global order that allows nuclear advantage to a choose couple of while denying it to others.
Rotblat's review suggests that the existing nuclear policy accidentally encourages proliferation rather than avoiding it. If effective states insist on holding nuclear arsenals for security reasons, they set a global precedent where nuclear ability ends up being synonymous with nationwide security and international status. This, in turn, incentivizes other countries to develop or obtain their own nuclear weapons to guarantee their sovereignty, thus increasing the threat of nuclear conflict and expansion.
By identifying the existing policy as a "recipe for expansion" and a "policy for catastrophe", Rotblat highlights the immediate need for reassessing and revising nuclear techniques globally. His call to action implies that true security should not be predicated on nuclear capabilities but rather through international cooperation, diplomatic engagement, and eventually, disarmament. Rotblat's point of view functions as a pointer of the precarious nature of nuclear deterrence and the requirement to strive for a world where security is achieved through serene ways, reducing the danger of disastrous consequences.
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