Mapping and analyzing nuclear weapons programs development

Abstract

An in-depth review of the types of nuclear reactors and their relationship to the development of nuclear weapons was conducted in order to provide a better understanding of the intention of a state in the creation of an internal nuclear program. An analysis of countries that have developed nuclear weapons and countries that have not was conducted. Following this analysis, the relationship between the weapons program, or lack thereof, was compared to the research reactors possessed by the country. The political environment of the country was also taken into account in order to determine the motivations behind the nuclear weapons development. It was concluded that there are a myriad of factors at play in the decision made by a country to develop nuclear weapons. There is a direct correlation between the construction of research reactors that were previously utilized for weapons research and the pursuit of an independent nuclear weapons program. However, a political impetus is necessary for the proper motivation to develop nuclear weapons to exist.