Bridled Ambition

This study presents an account of why nuclear weapons are rapidly becoming less attractive than they once seemed and what factors can motivate a country's leaders to keep nuclear ambitions in check. The book - written by an arms control expert - explains how nine countries: South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, India, Pakistan and North Korea - have recently capped, curtailed or rolled back their nuclear weapons programmes. Among the issues discussed are how, when, where and why South Africa built the bomb, how they planned to use it and why they gave it up. There are details of the classified 1992 denuclearization agreement Russia forced Belarus to sign, setting the timetable for the return of SS-25 ICBMs to Russia. Other previously confidential information is discussed.