Nuclear Weapons and Security

Worldwide interest in banning nuclear weapon tests, which began in the 1950s, led to the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963 and to the Threshold Test Ban Treaty and the Peaceful Nuclear Explosions Treaty of the 1970s. Testing limitations will remain in the public eye as the latter two treaties head for ratification, as public pressure continues and as military spending is decreased. This study presents the major aspects and viewpoints of the test ban debate, dealing with such questions as: How do test bans affect nuclear proliferation, stockpile confidence, weapons effects testing, and the development of new nuclear weapons? How can they be verified? What are alternatives for future test limitations? The authors draw upon extensive interviews with government personnel and experts in the field to address these and other questions.