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THE NUCLEAR LEGACY OF THE SOVIET UNION
Author(s) -
Michelsen Niall
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
southeastern political review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1747-1346
pISSN - 0730-2177
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-1346.1995.tb00077.x
Subject(s) - political science , inheritance (genetic algorithm) , nuclear weapon , state (computer science) , soviet union , liberalism , political economy , law , sociology , politics , chemistry , biochemistry , algorithm , computer science , gene
Russian and American efforts convinced the three non‐Russian states to forsake their nuclear inheritances. Belarus and Kazakhstan concluded that the costs of maintaining their inheritance exceed any security benefits which the weapons may provide. Ukraine has been obstinate but even it has apparently concluded that its nuclear inheritance is too expensive to maintain, not a sufficient deterrent, and an impediment to better relations with the West. Yet, Ukraine's record of backing away from its commitments suggests that the story may not be over Liberalism argues that Ukraine risks becoming an outlaw state by refusing to become a non‐nuclear state. Realism argues that Ukraine must provide for its own securiy and that the US would not break all ties with Ukraine. Ukraine's international orientation will depend upon how the US treats it and a nuclear Ukraine could be tied to the US.