Attempts to Ban Nuclear Tests

Abstract

From the onset of the nuclear age, the need for some control of nuclear weapons was evident. But for the dominant powers of the day (the permanent members of the UN Security Council), developing a nuclear capability unencumbered by any treaty constraint was much too tempting. Not only did nuclear weapons provide military power, but they were also symbols of superior national status. Accordingly, these nations proceeded as quickly as they could to develop and to expand their nuclear capability based on the premise that though arms control would eventually be necessary, there was a pressing and immediate need to develop a substantial nuclear capability.