Regime-Building in the Non-Proliferation System

The article analyses the main institutions, agreements and understandings that comprise the issue-area of nuclear non-proliferation and situates them in the framework of the international regimes literature. In explaining the process of regime-building and maintenance in the area of non-proliferation, the author draws on insights from modified structural and cognitive theories. The main argument is that self-interest and learning best explain the persistence of the non-proliferation regime. Further, as nuclear proliferation is a fundamental determinant of political, not technological, factors, efforts to strengthen this regime must begin from this premise. One of the main conclusions is that the non-proliferation project will continue to face new challenges, but that self-interest, cognitive development and the nature of the issues obviate the likelihood of collapse on the non-proliferation regime.