Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in the Middle East

Abstract

Why do some countries seek to acquire nuclear weapons? How can they be convinced to give up these aspirations? These are the underlying questions in Gawdat Bahgat's intriguing new study of nuclear proliferation in six key Middle East countries: Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Libya, and Saudi Arabia. Bahgat looks at the economic and political forces that shape this threat to world peace and at the prospects - largely unrealistic, he says - of establishing a nuclear weapons free zone in the region in the foreseeable future. While national security concerns are the main drive behind nuclear choices, other historical and military factors - national pride, regime stability, and perceptions and attitudes of leadership, among others - also contribute to weapons proliferation. Though the situation in each country he examines is unique, there are similarities. Bahgat demonstrates that national security concerns must be addressed to reduce the incentives for proliferation - not only of nuclear weapons, but also missiles and chemical and biological weapons.