Enforcement Through Voluntary Participation: The Impact of Non-Binding Informal Groups on the International Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime

Author

Claudia M. V. Hampton, CUNY City CollegeFollow

Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Department

International Relations

First Advisor

Jean Krasno

Second Advisor

Jacques Fomerand

Keywords

nuclear diplomacy, nuclear nonproliferation, Nuclear Suppliers Group, informal groups, multilateral negotiation, civilian nuclear commerce

Abstract

The present thesis analyzes the policy impact of the informal group known as the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), a non treaty-bound grouping of states organized to define mutually agreed upon nuclear export controls with the aim of advancing the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, in line with the values of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). As informal groups or voluntary forms of interstate cooperation are often criticized for their lack of enforcement mechanisms, two case studies in this thesis review the implementation of amendments and changes in national laws for states participating in the NSG (The United States), as well as states who are neither participants in the informal group nor parties to the NPT (India and Pakistan). My argument is that the informal nature of the NSG affords its participants and nonparticipants greater flexibility in bilateral and multilateral negotiations related to nuclear technology trade that align with wider international norms of nuclear weapons nonproliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear technology. This ability to facilitate nuclear commerce in a manner that aligns with international policies that advance the nonproliferation norms of the NPT, elevates the role of the NSG from a mere forum of discussion to an influential site of international policy formation. Through direct engagement with the NSG, and in response to procedures announced by it, India and Pakistan have made incremental progress towards aligning with the NPT in spirit, if not in letter. Utilizing this analysis, my thesis reviews and compares the informal structure of two political groups within the United Nations, the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) and the Group of 16 (G16), to present policy recommendations aimed at addressing the political stalemates of advancing the progress of these respective groups’ agendas. I conclude that these informal groups are uniquely equipped to facilitate nuclear diplomacy due to, and not in spite of, their lack of legally binding levers.

Recommended Citation

Hampton, Claudia M. V., "Enforcement Through Voluntary Participation: The Impact of Non-Binding Informal Groups on the International Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime" (2024). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/1155