It's often debated whether the IAEA can prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, but can the agency prevent the next Fukushima disaster? Konstantin Kakaes with the New America Foundation says "No," after attending the IAEA's general conference in Vienna this month.
Is there inherent conflict in the IAEA's stated purposes of preventing nuclear weapons proliferation but increasing access to (and safety of) nuclear technology?
Does the IAEA lack requisite power to maintain a balance between these goals when nation-states join mainly to access the technology, driven by self-interest that would also be served if the agency remains weak in its regulatory or enforcement abilities?
Access Kakaes's piece, featured on Foreign Policy: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/09/28/atomic_dogs?page=0,0
Wow, very enlightening article. I knew very little about the IAEA, but can certainly better contextualize current IAEA relations with Iran. Favorite part regarded how strong states keep the IAEA weak for their own political needs. This is applied to any international body: it is only as effective as powerful states (ie. US) allow it to be. I look forward to a global shift in power, to China for example, to see how international body powers change as well.
ReplyDelete