The making of a non-aligned nuclear power: India's proliferation drift, 1964–8

Sarkar, J. (2015) The making of a non-aligned nuclear power: India's proliferation drift, 1964–8. International History Review, 37(5), pp. 933-950. (doi: 10.1080/07075332.2015.1078393)

Abstract

The article examines the strategic circumstances leading to non-aligned India's safeguard of its nuclear option during a crucial period in its proliferation trajectory, when it was one of the states closest to nuclear-weapons development, and faced US pressures to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that was being negotiated at the time. Based on Indian, US, and French primary sources, this paper demonstrates that India's regional strategic insecurities and bilateral tensions with the United States were too great for it to sign the NPT. Yet, New Delhi's capability to successfully reprocess weapons-grade plutonium permitted the developing country substantial leverage that it exploited through advancing on a slow dual-use nuclear programme.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Sarkar, Dr Jay
• Authors: Sarkar, J.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Economic and Social History
• Journal Name: International History Review
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 0707-5332
• ISSN (Online): 1949-6540
• Published Online: 01 October 2015