Manpreet Sethi – författare

Like shifting sands of a desert, the global nuclear landscape changes every few years across its three main constituents - nuclear energy, non-proliferation and disarmament. Each of these has seen phases of cautious optimism, deep scepticism and outright pessimism over the last two decades. This book offers a bird’s eye view on all the three, even as the individual authors offer a worm’s eye view on each specific topic within the larger ambit.

The first section of the book examines developments in the nuclear energy sector. A broad-brush scan of the contemporary drivers and challenges for nuclear energy at a global level, as also that of India, reveals a positive trend line. There is also cautious optimism around the concept, developments and prospects of small modular reactors. It remains to be seen how effectively and quikcly licensing and regulation issues are resolved for the new concepts to become commericially viable.

The second part of the book is devoted to non-proliferation. Vertical nucluear and missile proliferation amongst nuclear armed states, and horizontal proliferation cases of Iran and possibilities in East Asia are considered. Nuclear terrorism and the state of the NPT are also examined. Collectively, these issues reflect a mood of pessimism on non-proliferation at this juncture.

Neither is there much to cheer on nuclear disarmament. The last section of the book examines the consequences of use of nuclear weapons, concepts of CBMs and arms control, and recent disarmament initiatives. A tentative exploration of the prospects of disarmament in the wake of Russia-Ukraine conflict is also undertaken. A hope that good sense will prevail, and fear that it might not, seem to coexist at this moment.

It is in India''s interest to proactively shape the landscape across these three elements. The book seeks to provide the basis to do so.

Like shifting sands of a desert, the global nuclear landscape changes every few years across its three main constituents - nuclear energy, non-proliferation and disarmament. Each of these has seen phases of cautious optimism, deep scepticism and outright pessimism over the last two decades. This book offers a bird’s eye view on all the three, even as the individual authors offer a worm’s eye view on each specific topic within the larger ambit.

The first section of the book examines developments in the nuclear energy sector. A broad-brush scan of the contemporary drivers and challenges for nuclear energy at a global level, as also that of India, reveals a positive trend line. There is also cautious optimism around the concept, developments and prospects of small modular reactors. It remains to be seen how effectively and quikcly licensing and regulation issues are resolved for the new concepts to become commericially viable.

The second part of the book is devoted to non-proliferation. Vertical nucluear and missile proliferation amongst nuclear armed states, and horizontal proliferation cases of Iran and possibilities in East Asia are considered. Nuclear terrorism and the state of the NPT are also examined. Collectively, these issues reflect a mood of pessimism on non-proliferation at this juncture.

Neither is there much to cheer on nuclear disarmament. The last section of the book examines the consequences of use of nuclear weapons, concepts of CBMs and arms control, and recent disarmament initiatives. A tentative exploration of the prospects of disarmament in the wake of Russia-Ukraine conflict is also undertaken. A hope that good sense will prevail, and fear that it might not, seem to coexist at this moment.

It is in India''s interest to proactively shape the landscape across these three elements. The book seeks to provide the basis to do so.

National security, war and strategy are mostly considered male preserves across the world even when, as professional scholars or policy practitioners, women have made significant contributions. Women voices and the subject of disarmament have been hidden in the shadows of mainstream security discourse for far too long. The book seeks to right-stream these by bringing together writings of women security experts, scholars and diplomats in India on issues of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

International efforts towards sustainable nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament are struggling to find the ‘right’ way. This book shifts the focus to the imperative of disarmament with women authors who share their perspectives on what the future for disarmament looks like and where India—a leading voice on disarmament—stands on these issues. The volume explores India’s nuclear disarmament journey; efforts towards and roadblocks in the implementation of nuclear disarmament verification; confidence building and nuclear risk reduction measures as pathways towards disarmament; nuclear energy and proliferation trends; linkage between nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament; and India’s commitment towards the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

This volume will be of great interest to students and scholars, researchers, policymakers and members of the diplomatic community, in the fields of security and strategic studies, international relations, politics, disarmament diplomacy and nuclear policy.

National security, war and strategy are mostly considered male preserves across the world even when, as professional scholars or policy practitioners, women have made significant contributions. Women voices and the subject of disarmament have been hidden in the shadows of mainstream security discourse for far too long. The book seeks to right-stream these by bringing together writings of women security experts, scholars and diplomats in India on issues of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

International efforts towards sustainable nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament are struggling to find the ‘right’ way. This book shifts the focus to the imperative of disarmament with women authors who share their perspectives on what the future for disarmament looks like and where India—a leading voice on disarmament—stands on these issues. The volume explores India’s nuclear disarmament journey; efforts towards and roadblocks in the implementation of nuclear disarmament verification; confidence building and nuclear risk reduction measures as pathways towards disarmament; nuclear energy and proliferation trends; linkage between nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament; and India’s commitment towards the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

This volume will be of great interest to students and scholars, researchers, policymakers and members of the diplomatic community, in the fields of security and strategic studies, international relations, politics, disarmament diplomacy and nuclear policy.