Nuclear Weapons
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Nuclear weapons have maintained global peace since 1945 by enforcing deterrence and preventing major powers from engaging in direct conflict. The doctrine of mutually assured destruction (MAD) ensures that no rational actor initiates nuclear war, as evidenced by the Cold War's stability despite ideological tensions. They bolster alliances like NATO, where shared nuclear capabilities deter aggression from adversaries such as Russia and China, safeguard sovereignty and promote strategic restraint in an anarchic world. Abolishing them risks conventional arms races and aggression, as seen in historical great-power rivalries.
Establishment-critical narrative
Nuclear weapons pose an existential threat, with their mere existence inviting accidental launches, cyber hacks or escalation from miscalculations. A single detonation could kill millions instantly, cause widespread radiation poisoning and trigger nuclear winter, devastating global agriculture and ecosystems. They exacerbate inequalities, as only a few nations wield this power, fueling arms races. Ethical concerns highlight their indiscriminate nature, violating international humanitarian law. Total abolition is the only moral path to prevent the inevitable misuse in an increasingly multipolar world rife with conflict.
