Necessity of Nuclear Weapons Non-Use norm

Why in News?

Marking 80 years on from Hiroshima, the recent developments including hostilities involving nuclear possessors, nuclear modernization are putting the norm of non-use under immense strain.

What was the Hibakusha’s role in shaping global views on nuclear weapons?

The people exposed to the radiation from the bombs are known as the Hibakusha, which literally translates to "explosion-affected people."

• Advocating moral and ethical needs – It provided powerful testimony about the human consequences of nuclear attacks.
• It creates a strong moral and ethical case against nuclear weapons use.
• Overcoming suppression – Initially, U.S. occupation authorities suppressed information about the bombings’ effects.
• Survivors fought to have their stories heard and respected, a recognition that took decades to achieve.
• Educating and rising global awareness – The survivors formed the Nihon Hidankyo, a group that traveled globally to educate people about the horror and prolonged suffering caused by nuclear weapons.
• Linking radiation sickness to nuclear weapons – Public understanding of radiation sickness in Japan only followed the 1954 Fukuryu Maru incident.
• This connected acute radiation illness to nuclear fallout and amplified the survivors’ voices.
• Disarming efforts – It contributed to international awareness, culminating in their recognition with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024 for disarmament efforts.

What are the factors supporting the “norm of non-use”?

• Nuclear weapons unacceptability – The use of nuclear weapons in conflicts is fundamentally intolerable, largely due to humanitarian issues and the pursuit of political stability.
• Fear of mutual destruction – The idea that the fear of destruction has been a greater factor in preventing nuclear weapon use than just legal or moral reasons alone.
• Global political consensus – As the memories of past nuclear conflicts fade, there's a risk that the international community may become satisfied that could increase the chances of dangerous nuclear miscalculations.
• International treaties – Treaties such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty are in place to discourage the use of nuclear weapons.
• Long-term risks – Decision-makers are cautious about the potential for uncontrollable escalation and the long-term geopolitical consequences that deters them from using nuclear weapons.

What are the challenges for the “norm of non-use”?

• Absence of legal prohibition – There is no binding international law prohibiting the use of nuclear weapons.
• The existing treaties like the NPT and Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty do not ban their use, only their proliferation and testing.
• Evolving threats – Recent developments, such as Russia’s threats over Ukraine, India’s nuclear posturing during Operation Sindoor, have introduced nuclear rhetoric into regional conflicts.

• Modernization of nuclear arsenals – Advances in nuclear weapon technology, including development of more “useable” tactical weapons, raise concerns that the threshold for nuclear use could be lowered in future conflicts.
• Legitimizing nuclear use – Nations strategically challenge the norm of nuclear non-use by deploying other norms that legitimize nuclear use, leading to debates of acceptable nuclear behavior.
• Weakening of disarmament efforts – Failures and fractures in nuclear treaties such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) i.e. the neglect of disarmament obligations by nuclear states weakens non-use norm.

What measures can be taken?

• Strengthening international norms – It is needed to reinforce the unique status of nuclear weapons as unacceptable tools of war through sustained diplomatic efforts and international declarations.
• Promoting universal adherence to non-use – This emphasizing humanitarian and ethical imperatives can be established by the experiences of the Hibakusha.
• Encouraging negotiations – New legal instruments that unambiguously prohibit the use of nuclear weapons, closing existing legal loopholes can leverage global cooperation.
• Fostering trust among nuclear-armed states – It can be done by establishing crisis communication mechanisms and confidence-building measures will help to prevent misunderstandings.
• Investing in education and awareness – Integrate the historical lessons of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and incidents like Fukuryu Maru into global educational curricula
  • This will help prevent complacency about nuclear dangers.
• Support the testimony and outreach of survivors (Hibakusha) and organizations advocating for disarmament, ensuring their message remains relevant.
• Modernizing deterrence without escalation – Urge states to review and revise nuclear postures to avoid developing or deploying more “useable” tactical nuclear weapons.
• Advocate for security policies that prioritize non-nuclear deterrence and conflict resolution.
• Enhancing global collective action – Encourage major powers and nuclear possessors to lead by example by reducing their nuclear arsenals and upholding non-use norms.
• Mobilize the international community – This including civil society, NGOs, and non-nuclear states to campaign for complete nuclear disarmament.
• Preventing nuclear miscalculation – Stress the importance of robust verification and early-warning systems to avert missteps.
• Develop crisis management frameworks for de-escalation in case of rising tensions involving nuclear-capable states.

Reference

The Hindu| Necessity of Nuclear Weapons Non-Use norm