'Civil' Nuclear Program - Serving the Dual Objectives of Retaining State's Hegemony on Citizens' Basic Energy Needs and Assuring Supply of Weapon Grade Ingredients: A Case Study on India

Abstract

Political leaders of emerging economies of India and China, where the state has not yet reached the maturity stage, prefer nuclear power to other alternative energy sources, as it serves the dual purpose of retaining state's hegemony on citizens' basic energy needs and assuring supply of weapon grade ingredients. In contrast with North America and most of Western Europe, where growth of nuclear power have leveled out for many years, the 'greatest growth in nuclear generation' in near future is expected in China, Japan, South Korea and India. The emergence of India as a major nuclear energy market is a case in point. Citing the loopholes of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and the inability of the regulators to perform their expected role, the paper suggests a complete phase out of nuclear energy programs to make this world free of nuclear weapons. It would be naive to believe that the political establishments are not aware of the negative consequences of nuclear power. Question may be raised then why have the emerging economies of India, China, Brazil, et al aligned themselves with the nuclear establishment without fully exploiting other alternative energy sources? This paper explores to find an answer to this question.