A theory of nuclear disarmament: Cases, analogies, and the role of the non-proliferation regime

What might prompt a nuclear-armed state to give up its arsenal? Nuclear disarmament has provided nominally shared goal for virtually all the world’s states decades, yet surprisingly little effort been devoted systematically theorizing drivers. This article aims begin filling this void. I proceed in three steps. First, discuss conceptual, material, and ideational features of renunciation arrive at rudimentary understanding what, fundamentally, nuclear as political process involves. Second, scope out empirical evidence on which general theory be based. Third, synthesizing dominant explanations cases discussed second part, outline basic account relinquishment compatibility with common assumptions about practice. conclude that best available suggests adversarial politics stigmatization are necessary conditions renunciation.