Durable institution under fire? The NPT confronts emerging multipolarity

The regime built around the 1970 Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) has helped curtail spread nuclear arms for fifty years. In hindsight, it is remarkable only nine states possess world’s most powerful weapon. NPT achieved much success during Cold War bipolarity and U.S. unipolarity in its aftermath. But today, China’s rise Russia’s resurgence have ushered a new era emerging multipolarity. Can treaty withstand potential challenges this dynamic environment? There real risk that multipolarity may shake scaffolding nonproliferation regime, presenting significant test to NPT’s durability. This article identifies four essential elements regime: widespread membership, adaptability, enforcement, fairness. History suggests international system largely sustained promoted these features. When regimes lack such elements, sharply curtails their long-term efficacy.