International Law and the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

Proliferation of WMD technologies is by no means a new concern for the international community. Indeed, since the signing of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty in 1968, tremendous energies have been expended upon diplomatic efforts to create a web of treaties and international organisations regulating the production and stockpiling of WMD sensitive materials within states, as well as their spread through the increasingly globalised channels of international trade to other states and non-state actors. However, the intervention in 2003 by Western powers in Iraq has served as an illustration of the importance of greater understanding of and attention to this area of law, as disagreements over its content and application have once again lead to a potentially destabilising armed intervention by members of the United Nations into the sovereign territory of another member state. Other ongoing disputes between states regarding the character of obligations assumed under non-proliferation treaty instruments, and the effect of international organisations' decisions in this area, form some of the most contentious and potentially destabilising issues of foreign policy concern for many states. This book provides a comprehensive analysis of international law and organisations in the area of WMD proliferation. It will serve both as a reference for understanding the law as it currently exists in its political and economic context, as well as an analysis of areas in which amendments to existing law and organisations are needed.

Autorentext

Daniel Joyner is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Alabama School of Law. He received his B.A. in Japanese from Brigham Young University, an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Georgia, and his J.D. from Duke Law School. Prior to joining the Alabama Law faculty, Professor Joyner taught on the faculty of the University of Warwick School of Law in the United Kingdom. During Michaelmas Term 2005, he was also a Senior Associate Member of St. Antony's College, Oxford University.