The Proliferation Security Initiative and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540: International law and the world's recent efforts to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

Efforts to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) have existed ever since the first WMD were created. In recent years, the proliferation of WMD has been recognized as a threat to international peace and security. The recognition of this threat led to recent efforts by the international community to create two new mechanisms for combating the proliferation of WMD. The new mechanisms are the Proliferation Security Initiative and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540. These new mechanisms were instituted to fill gaps in the existing nonproliferation regime, though they approach nonproliferation by different methods. One utilizes a small voluntary coalition, while the other imposes mandatory obligations of a universal nature. Both were created through international legal methods, but arguably exist due to novel legal authorities. Their bases in international law will be crucial to their effectiveness in the nonproliferation regime. If they do not adhere to existing international law and comport with the existing nonproliferation regime, then their success in combating WMD proliferation will be limited. This thesis provides background on the nonproliferation regime and these two recent mechanisms and then analyzes their adherence to international law. I then argue that in order for a WMD non-proliferation instrument to be successful, it must comport with international law. In this respect, Resolution 1540 may be superior to The Proliferation Security Initiative.