Deck 29: Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

Question 1

In Latin America, South East Asia, and Central Asia, the trend has been away from developing the regions as nuclear-weapons-free zones and towards 'nuclearization'.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Horizontal proliferation refers to increases in the size of existing nuclear arsenals, while vertical proliferation refers to the spread of nuclear weapons to new countries.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Nuclear technology is dual-use, meaning it can be used either to generate energy or to make a weapon.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Developing nuclear weapons capabilities involves two technologically complex steps: obtaining weapons-grade fissile material and weaponizing that material by making it into a warhead that can be delivered to its target.

Question 5

The term 'counter-proliferation' describes efforts to obstruct, slow, or roll back the programs of states that are actively pursuing nuclear weapons, as well as to deter and defend against their actual use.

Question 6

Which of the following states has given up its nuclear weapons?

A) South Africa
B) Kazakhstan
C) Ukraine
D) All of the options given are correct.

Question 7

What are the five 'official' nuclear-weapons states, as first identified in the Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968?

A) US, UK, USSR/Russia, Iraq, and China.
B) US, China, Israel, USSR/Russia, and UK.
C) US, USSR/Russia, China, UK, and France.
D) US, USSR/Russia, India, France, and Pakistan.

Question 8

Which term describes a country that possesses the necessary capabilities to quickly assemble nuclear weapons but has never done so?

A) Catalytic posture.
B) Nuclear opacity.
C) Latent nuclear capacity.
D) None of the options given are correct.

Question 9

Which 2015 agreement limits Iran's enrichment activities in exchange for lifting sanctions?

A) Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)
B) Agreed Framework
C) Partial Test Ban Treaty
D) None of the options given are correct.

Question 10

Which term describes the argument that nuclear weapons have not been used since 1945 because of a strong normative belief that they should not be used, rather than a rational calculation of the costs and benefits of using them?

A) Extended deterrence
B) Nuclear taboo
C) Nuclear deterrence
D) Existential deterrence

Question 11

Which country conducted a 'peaceful' nuclear test explosion in 1974?

A) Pakistan
B) China
C) Israel
D) India

Question 12

Which counter-proliferation effort seeks to ban the use, possession, development, testing, transfer, and deployment of nuclear weapons on humanitarian grounds?

A) The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
B) The Proliferation Security Initiative.
C) The Nuclear Security Summit.
D) UN Security Council Resolution 1540.

Question 13

Who argues that gradual nuclearization, whereby more countries obtain nuclear weapons, will contribute to stability?

A) Kenneth Waltz
B) Scott Sagan
C) Both Kenneth Waltz and Scott Sagan
D) Nina Tannenwald

Question 14

Which states are not currently signatories to the NPT?

A) Germany, Iran, Pakistan, and Israel.
B) India, Pakistan, and Israel.
C) Japan, Germany, India, and Brazil.
D) India, Pakistan, South Korea, and Japan.

Question 15

A nuclear weapon produces energy in what form?

A) A blast.
B) Thermal radiation (heat).
C) Nuclear radiation.
D) All of the options given are correct.