| The end of the Cold War has lessened the threat of a nuclear exchange between Russia and the U.S. and decreased the need to focus on the morality of nuclear deterrence. Nevertheless, many factors---including the breakup of the Soviet Union and the accompanying danger of the transfer of nuclear weapons, nuclear materials, nuclear technology and nuclear knowledge---combine to make the risk of nuclear war even greater. Indeed, many experts conclude that the risk of nuclear war is greater now than during the Cold War. Consequently, a new ethic of nonproliferation urgently needs to be developed.; This work explores both the historical and the current spread of nuclear weapons. It also looks at how ethical theory has explored the issues of war and peace and, specifically, nuclear weapons. The conclusion of this exploration of previous ethical thought on nuclear issues is that at best the conventional wisdom of Christian realism is inadequate to transcend the threat posed by nuclear weapons. The constructive section of this work turns to newer ethical and theological thought, in particular three distinctive perspectives: Christian pacifism, religious feminism, and third world liberation theology. These schools contribute vision by providing new concepts to an ethic of nonproliferation including community, nonviolence, justice, solidarity, character, risk-taking, liberation, experience and struggle.; The elements from these new visions are then used in the construction of a transformational ethic of nonproliferation. This ethic concludes that security comes from less, rather than more, nuclear weapons. It calls for the creation of communities (including the church) to engage in discussions and actions on behalf of nonproliferation. It also provides public policy recommendations, including steps the United States and other nations should take on behalf of nonproliferation. It recommends less violent defense policies, economic pressure and incentives, international control, a comprehensive test ban treaty, nuclear-free zones, nuclear disarmament, no-first-use pledges, control of fissile material and decreased military spending. An ethic of nonproliferation is a transformational ethic that provides hope for transcending the nuclear threat. |
