THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY—OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS OF STATES PARTIES: BALANCING THE PILLARS OF NON-PROLIFERATION, PEACEFUL USE, AND DISARMAMENT

Amy Bosnjak

Abstract

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is one of the most important treaties in international law today. Created to control nuclear technology in several different ways, the three principled pillars of non-proliferation, peaceful uses, and disarmament will be evaluated in detail. Using government statements, information gathered from international review conferences and a variety of other sources, this Article addresses the extent to which the Treaty can be considered as balanced. Each principled pillar will be discussed individually, with a focus on certain provisions in the Treaty, alongside a discussion into other interesting points such as a comparison with alternative international mechanisms. This Article determines that there is very little balance between the pillars, and that in fact the NPT is more advantageous to some states over others. This can be adduced largely to the formulation of the Treaty itself and resultantly, how this has given states the chance to misinterpret the Treaty wherever possible.