Regional Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation: A Case of CANWFZ Treaty
| Published date | 01 January 2024 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/00208817241228720 |
| Author | Aashriti Gautam |
| Date | 01 January 2024 |
https://doi.org/10.1177/00208817241228720
International Studies
61(1) 7 –19, 2024
© 2024 Jawaharlal Nehru University
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DOI: 10.1177/00208817241228720
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Research Article
Regional Nuclear
Disarmament and Non-
Proliferation: A Case
of CANWFZ Treaty
Aashriti Gautam1
Abstract
Nuclear weapons are highly potent and devastating instruments found in
the military stockpiles of contemporary nations. The immense magnitude
and pace of devastation that nuclear weapons may cause, coupled with the
relative ease with which governments can acquire these offensive capabilities
and the inability to effectively defend against a nuclear assault, render
nuclear weapons highly valuable. Against this true but bitter reality of the
present world order, the author posits that creating nuclear-weapon-free
zones (NWFZ) on a regional scale can serve as a beacon of hope and a
significant catalyst in the global effort to achieve a nuclear-weapon-free
world. To further analyse this idea, the author explores NWFZ and their
relevance to regional denuclearization by focusing on the Central Asian
nuclear-weapon-free zone (CANWFZ) treaty. The article is divided into four
sections. The first section includes a review of contemporary literature about
disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. The second section examines
the development of the CANWFZ and its commitment to the objectives
of disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. The third section involves
assessing the barriers to this regional cooperation that impede its full
implementation. Section four explores the potential reformative strategies
that can improve the effectiveness of CANWFZ and elevate it to a model for
other regional groupings in achieving a nuclear-free world.
Keywords
Central Asian nuclear weapons free zone, disarmament, non-proliferation,
regional cooperation, participatory framework
1Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies (CRCAS), School of International Studies (SIS),
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India
Corresponding author:
Aashriti Gautam, Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies (CRCAS), School of International
Studies (SIS), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi 11067, India.
E-mail: aashriti92@gmail.com
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