Engaging a Nuclear India: Punishment, Reward, and the Politics of Non-Proliferation

Abstract

This paper addresses India’s claim that it is a “responsible nuclear power” and assesses recent changes in the international response to India’s nuclear status. It fi nds that despite India’s outsider status with respect to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and various export control regimes, it has maintained a very strong non-proliferation record. The decisions by the United States and Canada in 2005 to renew nuclear cooperation with India have recognized this, but, in so doing, have potentially undermined the legitimacy of the NPT. In reality, however, the primary mechanisms for infl uencing states’ decisions to cross the nuclear threshold lie outside the NPT and can be strength ened through Indian participation. The path set by renewed cooperation with India is an uncertain one, but its pragmatic approach based on compliance behavior is likely a more credible and effective foundation than the illusions of the NPT.