"Reflections on the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons"

Jayantha Dhanapala
October 13, 2016

Edited by Jayantha Dhanapala and Tariq Rauf
Published by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
October 2016

"The 1968 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is the world¹s pre-eminent multilaterally negotiated nuclear arms control treaty with 191 states parties. Except for the UN Charter, no other international instrument has more adherents. The NPT covers an array of topics: nuclear non-proliferation; international cooperation in promoting the peaceful uses of nuclear energy under safeguards and verification in conformity with the Treaty; and nuclear disarmament efforts leading to the elimination of all nuclear weapons. NPT review conferences are convened every five years. The next one will take place in 2020 and will mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty.

This volume explores questions about the past and future of the NPT.
 

  • Why was it decided to extend the treaty indefinitely in 1995?
  • What commitments made that extension possible?
  • Have they been upheld?
  • What new commitments were made at the 2000 and 2010 NPT Review Conferences?  
  • Have they been implemented?
  • Why did the 2015 Review Conference fail?  
  • How to prepare for the 2020 NPT Review Conference?


Essential reading for both diplomats and civil society.

In light of recent negative developments and an increasing loss of institutional memory in foreign ministries and research institutes on the workings of the NPT review process‹including the proceedings and outcomes of key review conferences in 1995, 2000 and 2010 the two authors believe that this compendium of essays could provide useful insights to the new generation of diplomats and researchers on how the Treaty and its review process have evolved through the previous two decades. It is also hoped that they may help promote more productive and harmonious conduct during the preparations for the 2020 review conference."

Visit Stockholm International Peace Research Institute to download the complete publication.

 

Amb. (Ret.) Jayantha Dhanapala, former Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs at the United Nations, is President of Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs and one of The Simons Foundation's Peace Shapers as a previous recipient of The Simons Foundation Award for Distinguished Global Leadership in the Service of Peace and Disarmament.