University of Southampton
Project Title
For research on the history of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
Date
Jun. 13, 2019
Duration
48 months
Description
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), soon to enter its 50th year, faces an uncertain future and a contested past. At the upcoming Review Conference in 2020, state parties are almost certain to resurface frustrations with the treaty’s implementation. These debates highlight the need for a clear understanding of the historical context and rationale for the NPT. Through this project, University of Southampton will examine original negotiation records in multiple languages to clarify the intent and implications of the treaty. Among other things, the project will revisit the simplistic narrative of a “grand bargain” among disarmament, nonproliferation, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy to reveal a more complex reality. This study will be completed in time for the NPT Review Conference, where parties will meet to discuss the state of the treaty.