Proliferation, plutonium, and policy: institutional and technological impediments to nuclear weapons propagation

Book · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:6221638

De Volpi, A

This book contains a comprehensive overview of the political and technological aspects of proliferation and recommends strategies for minimizing nuclear weapons propagation. Two worlds are bridged by this work: the institutions of human society and the techniques and applications of science. The central focus is proliferation policy. In order to sort out respective institutional and technological roles against proliferation, it has been necessary to examine each sector thoroughly, with particular and unavoidable emphasis on technology and its complexities. The study was initiated in early May 1977 as a direct result of President Carter's statement about avoiding nuclear weapons proliferation because of potential diversion from the commercial reactor fuel cycle. Because of the relatively short time frames in which various studies and decisions are to be publicized, results of this investigation are being made available in a consummate and timely fashion. This book is structured to respond to four basic questions: how serious is the weapons proliferation problem; what can be done about it; what are its implications; and what policy decisions are recommended. A chapter is devoted to each quetion. Conclusions are provided at the end of each chapter and at the end of the main body of the book, followed by nontechnical and technical summaries. As much technical detail as possible has been relegated to appendices.

• OSTI ID: 6221638
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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