Nuclear Energy and International Relations: Outlook and Challenges for Newcomers

Abstract

Nuclear energy differs from other sources of energy with its military application resting at the core of international relations, that is, nuclear weapons. Under the international nuclear nonproliferation regime, nonnuclear weapon states have the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes under the obligation to apply safeguards, so that the technology is not diverted to military use. This article aims to show that in the new millennium, countries aspiring to generate nuclear energy need to consider their policy from a broader context than energy security. It starts with an overview of nuclear technology and its relationship to proliferation, how its use is regulated, and the expected behavior from states using nuclear energy. It presents the challenges facing nuclear power projects: the Iran nuclear issue; nuclear terrorism becoming a more pressing issue than state-level proliferation; and safety and public acceptance

Keywords

• Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Nonproliferation, Nuclear Security, Public Acceptance of Nuclear Energy

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