A Study On The Nuclear Non-proliferation Policy Of European Union In A Nuclear Proliferation World

Robert Kagan, a famous American scholar, summarises the non-proliferation policy of European Union and the United States of America as"The American policy is from Mars while the European's is from Venues". His argument points out the fact that the non-proliferation policies differ as the country varies. Moreover, it indicates the necessity of comparative studies on non-proliferation policies of different countries.Ever since the introduction of nuclear weapon in the 1940s, it is becoming increasingly important for the international community to take into consideration nuclear proliferation issues like the scale of manufacture, nuclear resources and technologies. Most countries have been continuously making efforts to control the serious proliferation situation around the globe. Meanwhile, because of the difference in their national interests and so forth, they have formed different nuclear non-proliferation policies along history.As a special union of countries, European Union has developed its own distinctive nuclear non-proliferation policy, which is significantly more diverse and profound than others. The content of European nuclear non-proliferation policy includes its historical context, objectives and code of conduct. From the perspective of regime, it has set up an institutional system that provides powerful protection for the nuclear non-proliferation practices of European Union. Under the guidance of this policy, European Union openly expresses its political norms on nuclear proliferation issues and efficiently responds to the threats and challenges from other parties.The nuclear non-proliferation policy of European Union has been tested by time, and has formed its own"EU characteristics". This study aims to systematically review the non-proliferation policy of European Union to reach an in-depth understanding of this subject.Drawing from the achievement of previous non-proliferation academic works, this study starts with analyzing three theoretical models in the first chapter 'introduction'- the"regime study model"(concerning the global non-proliferation regime), the"nation study model"(concerning the nation-specific non-proliferation policies) and the"case study model"(concerning the proliferation cases that have caused international attention), which forms the theoretical framework of this essay. The following chapter titled'the proliferation situation and anti-proliferation efforts in the globe'will focus on two issues– the nuclear proliferation situation and global anti-proliferation efforts, which will serve as the context for the nuclear non-proliferation policy of European Union. It is under the circumstances of the"old problems"and"new challenges"that the nuclear non-proliferation policy of European Union came into shape. The third chapter'the development of the nuclear non-proliferation policy of European Union'will examine the subject from a historical perspective–its emergence, evolvement and completion, so as to analyse the continuous improvement of European Union's non-proliferation policy. Based on the theories in the first three chapters, in chapter four'EU non-proliferation policy and the Iran nuclear issue', a case study of Iran's nuclear issue will be conducted as an illustration of European Union's policy in practice. Eventually it will lead to a thorough summary and analysis of the nuclear non-proliferation policy of European Union in the last chapter'conclusion', where the characteristics and weaknesses of this policy will be identified.Same as nuclear non-proliferation policies of other countries, the European Union's policy was developed in the context of global nuclear proliferation. However, it is distinctive in its historical context, evolving process, as well as its limitations. The nuclear non-proliferation policy of European Union prioritises the international regime and embeds its own strategic culture. It emphasizes the multi-lateral principle and a combination of multiple methods, respects the suspect country's rights, and announces its new security notion. In terms of weaknesses, the nuclear non-proliferation policy of European Union faces the challenge of coordinating the interests of each member state. Also, it is difficult for it to avoid the influence of American policy and standpoint.Without a doubt, the development of the nuclear non-proliferation policy of European Union will never come to an end. It will remain in the process of constant improvement and evolvement according to the changes in the international non-proliferation situation and the integration status of European Union. Optimistically, the distinctive characteristics of the nuclear non-proliferation policy of European Union will be kept, and its problems and limitations will eventually be solved.