Great Anniversaries of Peace Initiatives

Syllabus: GS2/GS3/ Nuclear Disarmament

Context

• The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the world’s first nuclear weapon test, highlighting the significance of historical peace initiatives and their enduring influence on global disarmament and cooperation.

Dangers of nuclear weapons

• The catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons were first witnessed during the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
  • It resulted in over 200,000 deaths and long-term health issues due to radiation exposure.
• The arms race during the Cold War highlighted how nuclear proliferation can escalate global conflicts, with the threat of mutually assured destruction (MAD) preventing open warfare but perpetuating fear.
• A nuclear war could trigger a “nuclear winter,” where soot and debris block sunlight, disrupting global agriculture and threatening mass starvation.
• Human error, technical malfunctions, or cyberattacks could trigger unintended nuclear detonations. 
• Historical incidents, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962), demonstrate how close humanity has come to catastrophic outcomes due to misunderstandings and miscalculations.

Nuclear Powers in the World

• There are nine countries recognized as possessing nuclear weapons. 
• These countries are often referred to as “nuclear-armed states” or “nuclear powers.” 
• United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom, France, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel.

What is Nuclear Disarmament?

• Disarmament refers to the act of eliminating or abolishing weapons (particularly offensive arms) either unilaterally or reciprocally. 
• It may refer either to reducing the number of arms, or to eliminating entire categories of weapons.

The Russell-Einstein Manifesto

• A significant milestone in global peace advocacy, the Russell-Einstein Manifesto was issued in 1955. 
• Led by philosopher Bertrand Russell and physicist Albert Einstein, the manifesto highlighted the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons. 
• The document urged world leaders to seek peaceful resolutions to conflicts and emphasized the moral responsibility of the scientific community in preventing nuclear catastrophe. 

Avadi Resolution 

• In 1955, the Indian National Congress passed the Avadi Resolution, emphasizing the urgent need for nuclear disarmament. 
• India, under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, called for the United Nations Disarmament Commission to take up the matter, urging a global consensus for total prohibition of nuclear weapons. 

India’s Role in Promoting Peace and Disarmament

• The Avadi Resolution was echoed in the Rajiv Gandhi Action Plan for a Nuclear Weapons Free and Non-Violent World Order (1988), which proposed a step-by-step approach towards global disarmament. 
• Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), 1968: India opposed it, citing its unequal nature as it allowed existing nuclear powers to retain their arsenals while restricting others from acquiring them.
• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), 1996: India refused to sign, arguing that it was discriminatory as it didn’t ensure disarmament for nuclear-armed states.
• India adopted a No First Use (NFU) policy in 1998 after its nuclear tests.

Way Ahead

• Strengthening Multilateralism: India’s advocacy for UN reforms could help make disarmament efforts more effective and equitable.
• AI and Cybersecurity: India should lead global discussions on preventing the use of cyber technology for accessing or controlling nuclear weapons.

Source: TH