THE GLOBAL NUCLEAR ORDER IN THE AGE OF DEMOCRATIC DECLINE: ASSESSING THE IMPLICATIONS FOR NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION
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Author
Comstock, DeAnna M.
Date
2023-12Advisor
Halladay, Carolyn C.
Second Reader
Mabry, Tristan J.
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International cooperation and bilateral nuclear agreements have maintained a relatively stable nuclear world order since 1945, successfully limiting the expansion of nuclear weapons from outsized proliferation. However, the global shift toward illiberal and autocratic governance threatens this stability. The rise of autocracy worldwide has eroded liberal democratic values and institutions, resulting in a growing distrust of international institutions. This trend is particularly concerning for nuclear non-proliferation, which requires robust international cooperation to succeed. This thesis highlights the direct impact of democratic backsliding on nuclear non-proliferation efforts, connecting democratization with cooperation and compliance. It underscores the importance of international institutions and agreements, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, in maintaining nuclear order and preventing proliferation. Ultimately, this research finds that domestic politics and regime type are tied to cooperation with the nuclear non-proliferation regime and nuclear norms, demonstrating how the global shift toward illiberal governance poses significant challenges to the liberal international order and the maintenance of nuclear non-proliferation.
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