Nuclear Weapons: US Foreign Policy and the Challenges of Global Proliferation

Implication of nuclear weapons to U.S. foreign policy and international politics. Topics include basic science of nuclear fission and fusion, history of nuclear proliferation, theory of nuclear deterrence, evolution of U.S. nuclear posture during and after Cold War, and case studies of other nuclear proliferation with detailed coverage of North Korea and Iran. Emphasis in readings and assignments will be placed on being able to understand how these weapons apply to theories of international relations and foreign policy and on being able to make causal inferences regarding their importance.