Jack N. Barkenbus

Nuclear power safety and the role of international organization

Sovereign states determine the health and safety regulation of nuclear power facilities almost exclusively. Yet the Soviet nuclear power accident at Chernobyl (April 1986) demonstrated that nuclear power can have significant health and political effects transcending state boundaries. Several meetings have been held at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) since the Chernobyl accident, with delegates seeking to find the proper balance between autonomous state decision-making and international or transboundary interests. This article examines the nuclear safety role of IAEA in the past, and comes to conclusions regarding its likely role in the future. I claim that IAEA is unlikely to become a powerful regulatory “watchdog,” but that incremental changes in the agency could, over time, create a significant international presence.

Stabilizing Star Wars

An orderly replacement of offensive with defensive nuclear weapons is part of the defense-protected build-down (DPB) strategy described by Weinberg and Barkenbus. Differing from the administrations Star Wars approach by relying on interceptor missiles rather than costly and unproven lasers and particle beams, the plan also calls for a simultaneous freeze on offensive weapons. (DCK)

The Politics of Ocean Resource Exploitation

Technological development is allowing ocean resource exploitation to advance at an unprecedented scale and pace. Recent sessions of the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference (UNCLOS), however, have demonstrated that disputes over how ocean resources should be exploited, and on whose behalf, have accompanied this technological development. Ocean resource politics practiced at UNCLOS manifests four major themes common to resource politics in general: (1) a movement toward exercising greater control over NGOs; (2) a strong north-south ideological split pervading the negotiations; (3) the difficulties in aggregating interests around the north-south axis; (4) a recognition of the interdependence between north and south in resource exploitation. Efforts to promote a global management approach to the negotiations have been unsuccessful, since national leaders lack a common conceptual framework with which to assess ocean resource management.

Prospects for inherently safe reactors

Abstract Public fears over nuclear safety have led some within the nuclear community to investigate the possibility of producing inherently safe nuclear reactors; that is, reactors that are transparently incapable of producing a core melt. While several promising designs of such reactors have been produced, support for large-scale research and development efforts has not been forthcoming. The prospects for commercialization of inherently safe reactors, therefore, are problematic; yet possible events such as further nuclear reactor accidents and superpower summits, could alter the present situation significantly.

Defense-protected build-down

Our series “Breaking the Nuclear Deadlock” resumes this month with two articles. In the first, Jack Barkenbus and Alvin Weinberg suggest the deployment of strategic defense systems simultaneous with the withdrawal of offensive systems. On a related theme, Clark Abt urges the conversion of such offensive weapons systems as the MX, Pershing II and Trident to a ballistic-missile defense role.—The Editors

The nuclear connection: A reassessment of nuclear power and nuclear proliferation

This book presents papers on nuclear power. Topics considered include prospects for commercial nuclear power and proliferation, the front end of the fuel cycle, the back end of the fuel cycle, national policy issues, non-proliferation policy, safeguards, controls, sanctions, and nuclear energy and proliferation (a longer perspective).

Nuclear energy and the ballot

Nuclear decisions were first made at the Federal level, but as development increased nuclear energys visibility, policy decisions have spread into a larger arena. The reason nuclear initiatives were defeated in several states last year, according to the anti-nuclear forces, was due to the heavy campagin financing by nuclear proponents; however, nationwide polling has indicated no serious qualms about nuclear energy. A shift in the battlegrounds can be expected until all avenues have been tried at local and state levels. The broadened controversy not only serves as a whole vehicle for disseminating information and motivating citizen response, but it requires independent judgment for all levels of representatives and may lead to more independent safety assessments. Prolonged court battles are predicted unless regulatory jurisdictions are clearly defined through legislation. A strong minority influence can be expected to continue (in spite of the overwhelming election defect) to demand a full public debate. (DCK)