Benchmark Two
(2005-2006)

• In Benchmark I you analyzed the motivations that would drive a nation state to want to possess nuclear weapons. You also came to an understanding of the kinds of physical and intellectual resources a nation would need in order to develop these weapons.
• In Benchmark II your task is to investigate issues of nuclear weapons in the world today. You will once again identify the world’s nuclear powers, the “wannabes,” and those countries that do not want this capability. You will also work to understand the ways in which the world community has chosen to try to control nuclear weapons. And you will identify and explain what you have already learned, the current concerns of the global community regarding the development and proliferation of nuclear weapons in various regions of the world.
• In your investigations you will examine the objectives from the point of view of the scientific & environmental; social & cultural; economic; political & geopolitical domains to help you to build an understanding of the current world situation and the usefulness of the various treaties and agreements now in use.

Objective I – Current Regions of Interest

You will do research to understand where current “stable spots” and “trouble spots” are in the world in terms of nuclear proliferation/nonproliferation. You will develop an understanding why these areas are considered problems. You will consider the following nations:

• “Old (de jure)” nuclear nations: (United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China)
• “New” nuclear nations: (India, Israel, Pakistan)
• “Possible” nuclear nations: (Iran, North Korea)
• “Rejecting” nations: (Argentina, Brazil, Libya, South Africa)
• “Denuclearized” nations (South Africa, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan)
• “Non-nuclear” nations: (many choices)
• Nations belonging to Nuclear Weapons Free Zones (NWFZ)

  Suggested Activities:

1. What are the scientific and technical requirements to transform a nuclear power program into a nuclear weapons program?
   
   
2. List possibilities that would cause a nation that was determined to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes to change its mind and embark on a weapons program. Consider these questions in relation to Iran and North Korea.
   
   a. What would that a have to do in the scientific area? In the area of technology? Diplomatically?
   
   b. How would the rest of the world find out about these changes? Would science and technology play a part? Intelligence gathering? Other methods?
   
   c. What could the rest of the world do about this nation diplomatically? Economically? Using science or technology?
   
   
3. Describe the processes to enrich uranium and to reprocess plutonium. For what peaceful purposes might a country enrich uranium or reprocess plutonium? How can it be determined when these processes are for peaceful purposes, and when the country is trying to make a bomb? Consider these questions in relation to Iran and North Korea.
   

Objective II – Treaties and other Agreements

You will develop an understanding of the implications of international treaties dealing with the proliferation/nonproliferation of nuclear weapons and their verification processes. You will examine these treaties from the perspective of one nation in each of the categories in Objective #1.

Suggested Activities:

1. Prepare for your investigations of nonproliferation issues by reviewing one or more of the following: the "Arms Control and Treaties" lesson from the LLNL Education Program paper (link), the Arms Control Association, www.armscontrol.org/treaties, The CNS developed NPT tutorial www.nti.org/h_learnmore/npttutorial/index.html and and the CIF website “Resources” collection.
   
   
2. Consider the various international treaties negotiated to control nuclear arms proliferation? Again, use one or more of the resources on international nuclear treaties in the CIF website resources collection. How effective is each?
   
   a. What are the relationships among the NPT, CTBT, SALT series, START series, NWFZ’s, and other treaties and recent bilateral agreements that are not codified as “treaties”?
   
   b. Some treaties have international organizations that monitor the member nations in the treaty. For the NPT the organization is the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Prepare a short paper describing the organization of the IAEA, its roles and duties, and its responsibilities.
   
   c. What does a nation sacrifice by joining the NPT? Joining the CTBT? Joining an NWFZ? Joining any other nuclear weapons related treaty?
   
   d. What would a nation gain by joining any one or all of these agreements?
   
   e. How should the states permitted to have nuclear weapons by the NPT respond to claims that the NPT amounts to "nuclear apartheid"? Consider these questions in relation to India, Iran and North Korea.
   
   f. It is a common conception that if there is a "breaking of the rules", that there must be some sort of punishment. What kinds of punishments are available when nuclear treaties are broken? What kinds of punishments can be administered to nations who have not signed current treaties if they break the “rules” of an existing treaty? What is being done or being considered in relation to Iran and North Korea? What was done in relation to India and Pakistan?
   
   g. Which countries have refused to sign the Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and why?
   
   
3. Throughout history great thinkers have talked about war. For the most part they have condemned it. Still they realize that war will happen. Their answer is then, “well, if there must be war, then these are the conditions under which war is justified and these are the conditions under which it can be carried out.” Investigate the concept of justifying waging war in various cultures, in various religions, and various ways of thinking and present a short paragraph on several different ones.
   
   
4. Consider the following scenario: Country A has recently begun work that could lead to the development of a nuclear weapon. Country B has been researching similar programs, but has not yet been successful. Country C has a poor economy and does not have the resources to even begin thinking about such weapons. Country C, therefore, is very intimidated by the invention of these advances in its neighbors. Your task is to develop a treaty for these three countries that will restrict the use of nuclear weapons technology, limit or stop its proliferation, provide safety for other countries that are concerned about the use of this technology, and that will verify all treaty points. As you develop your Nonproliferation Control Treaty, consider the four domains and the following questions:
   
   a. Why do international treaties work? Why not?
   
   b. What does it take to make a treaty successful?
   
   c. What incentives would make all these countries "join" the treaty?
   
   
5. Does technology make a difference? What are the scientific methods used to verify compliance with current treaties. Describe scientific or technical methods currently in use and tell how these methods actually work.
   

Objective III – Issues of Accountability

Using the nations you identified in objective #1 and the treaties you identified in objective #2, understand the issues of accountability within the areas of security, safety, the environment, public health, and ethics. From the perspective of your selected nations (above), understand the arguments on accountability issues that each nation might argue at a United Nations forum.

Suggested Activities:

1. Consider the following questions and create an “Op-Ed” piece that expresses your opinions on the subject of Treaty Accountability. Make sure to address the four domains.
   
   a. Can treaties be trusted? Why?
   
   b. What does it take to make an arms control treaty successful?
   
   c. Which areas seem to be weak and in need of strengthening?
   
   d. What can be done to strengthen them?
   
   
2. What role does verification play in international treaties? What technical measures are available to verify compliance with various nuclear weapons treaties?
   

http://www.criticalissuesforum.org/bmk06_2.html
updated 03 November 2005