Drawing Lessons from the Case of South Africa’s Disarmament for Today

Abstract

Objective: South Africa abandoned its nuclear weapon program publicly in the early 1990s. It is the only state to have relinquished its program voluntarily, making it an excellent case study from which to draw lessons. The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) has a wealth of unpublished information on the program’s disarmament and subsequent external verification. This project aims to develop lessons from South Africa’s experience that provide a potential path forward for dealing with other countries, such as North Korea and Iran, which may require similar denuclearization. In addition, the research will provide policy makers with advice on how South Africa’s case can inform international agreements and initiatives to improve U.S. and international nuclear security.