Broken Treaties: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Nuclear Arms Control Agreements MTA
Analyzes landmark treaties, why they succeeded or failed, and pathways to renewed arms control

About this book:

"Broken Treaties: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Nuclear Arms Control Agreements" provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of nuclear arms control, examining landmark treaties, their successes, failures, and the challenges they face in a fragmenting world. The book argues that durable arms control is a product of well-crafted legal design, aligned political incentives, and credible verification technologies. It traces the origins of the nuclear order from the "Atoms for Peace" initiative to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), highlighting the "grand bargain" of non-proliferation, disarmament, and peaceful uses, and the crucial role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in safeguards.

The book delves into specific treaties, including SALT I, which introduced the logic of limiting offensive and defensive systems with the ABM Treaty, and SALT II, whose negotiation set the stage for deeper reductions despite its non-ratification. It details the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty as a breakthrough in verifiable dismantlement, and START I as a monumental achievement in deep, verifiable reductions of strategic warheads. The subsequent chapters cover START II's ambitious but ultimately unfulfilled goal of eliminating MIRVed ICBMs, the brief and flexible Moscow Treaty (SORT), and New START, which re-established robust verification before its recent suspension by Russia. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is presented as a triumph of science diplomacy that remains in limbo due to non-entry into force, and the enduring role of test moratoria and the rise of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) are also explored, highlighting shifts in normative approaches.

"Broken Treaties" also addresses critical cross-cutting themes, including the technological advancements in verification (satellites, seismology, and emerging zero-knowledge warhead checks), the destabilizing interplay of missile defense and prompt strike weapons, and the new risks posed by cyber and artificial intelligence to nuclear command and control. It analyzes diverse regional nuclear orders in Europe, South Asia, and Northeast Asia, demonstrating how local dynamics shape nuclear choices. Furthermore, the book scrutinizes the often-underestimated influence of domestic politics, legislatures, and public opinion on treaty ratification and compliance.

The concluding chapters look forward, offering pathways for renewal through risk reduction, transparency, and incremental caps. It provides a roadmap for advocates and policymakers, emphasizing pragmatic steps from crisis ceasefires and codes of conduct to tailored regional agreements and the strategic use of technological innovation for verification. Ultimately, the book asserts that while competition is enduring, catastrophe is not destiny, and that sustained, adaptive efforts in arms control are essential for managing distrust and ensuring survival in the nuclear age.

What You'll Find Inside:

• How landmark nuclear arms control treaties succeeded or failed based on alignment of legal design, political incentives, and verification credibility
• The three-legged stool framework of arms control: how law, politics, and technology interact to create stable nuclear restraint
• Evolution of verification technologies from satellites and seismology to emerging zero-knowledge warhead verification methods
• Analysis of regional nuclear orders (Europe, South Asia, Northeast Asia) and why universal approaches often fail in multipolar contexts
• Practical pathways for renewal including risk reduction measures, transparency agreements, and incremental caps adapted to today's fragmented world

Who's It For:

This book is essential reading for policymakers, diplomats, and national security officials engaged in nuclear arms control and non-proliferation work. It will also benefit researchers, graduate students, and professionals in international relations, security studies, and political science who need to understand the historical evolution and future prospects of nuclear restraint. Advocates and activists working on nuclear disarmament will find practical pathways for engagement, while technical experts will appreciate the detailed analysis of verification technologies and methodologies.