Abstract
Some countries pursue nuclear weapons, while others do not. What could be the reason behind this? In this project, I carry out a comparative case study between the countries of South Korea and Japan in order to understand why they did not go nuclear in the aftermath of the 2006 North Korean nuclear test. In fact, North Korea carried out two more nuclear tests since 2006 but neither South Korea nor Japan has shown evidence of going nuclear. The three primary theories of realism, liberalism, and constructivism are used to analyze the non-pursuit of nuclear weapons by both these countries, and form the essence of this qualitative analysis. I primarily rely upon Scott Sagan’s three models to study nuclear non-pursuit, but also make a few changes to some of the independent variables. The realist security guarantees with the United States seems to be the strongest indicator of non-pursuit in South Korea. In the case of Japan, I conclude that many liberal notions of non-pursuit such as public opinion have roots in a constructivist variable and that leads me to proclaim norms and identity as the strongest variables, though security guarantees are important in the case of Japan too.
Advisor
Marsh, Kevin
Department
International Relations
Recommended Citation
Jain, Naman, "Why Did South Korea and Japan Not Pursue Nuclear Weapons after the 2006 North Korean Nuclear Test?" (2014). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 5759.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/5759
Disciplines
International Relations
Publication Date
2014
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2014 Naman Jain