Lucky E. Asuelime

Commonwealth, bargains and influence: British atomic relations vis-á-vis South Africa, 1955-1956

At a time when uranium commanded attraction and became a currency for powerful states enmeshed in the Cold War, South Africa was courted, since its uranium was a commodity needed for both peaceful and military purposes by these principal state actors. J.D.L. Moore and G. Berridge gave two contrasting explanations for the British role in atomic South Africa in 1955 and 1956. The former claims that Britain was inevitably more modestly influential than the Americans. The latter claims that British anxiety about future deliveries of South African uranium forced it to make major concessions, such as the handover of Simon’s Town. I argue that both claims are incorrect. On the first claim, the output of South African uranium was determined largely by the US, through the mechanism of the Combined Development Agency. On the second claim, South Africa was in such a precarious situation that it was impossible for it to use its uranium for so much leverage.

Political Economy of Clean Energy Integration in West Africa

Abstract The appalling state of energy generation and distribution in virtually all African states has continued to plague the continent’s economic growth. Most African countries have not utilized effectively the abundance energy source that provides room for relative clean energy, except South Africa. South Africa in fact for decades has focused fairly and narrowly on its uranium residue. The emerging scenario is that the global clamor for clean energy is once again leaving Africa behind. A regionally coordinated transition from carbon-based energy to clean energy has been canvassed as a remedy. With the use of a textual analysis, this paper examines the prospect of transition to clean energy integration in West Africa, using the functionalist and related models. It argues, among other points, that the existing constellation of forces portends a bleak future for clean energy industry in the subregion.

Energy Security and the Future of Development in Africa

African development has become a major discussion issue both in and outside Africa. The continent is seen as the new and rising destination for capital and investment. It has seen both the financially rich Eastern and Western bloc of nations competing for African attention. However, this development rush is not uniform across the whole continent, given that Africa is made up of 54 countries that have different levels of enabling environments and varied developmental strides. The major element that is critical for development both in social and business terms is energy security. The main thrust of this chapter is to argue that for Africa to take off and compete with other emerging economies there is need for massive investment in the energy sector.

Conclusion: Controlling Nuclear Weapons in the Global South

This concluding chapter provides policy recommendations and strategies to control the proliferation of nuclear weapons in general and in relation to the Global South. It summarizes the main findings of the study. It also projects a pattern of possible future proliferation trends leaning towards emerging power states and the likes. It also suggests solutions or control measures for the problem of nuclear proliferation.

British–South African Nuclear Politics: A Review

This chapter reviews the literature on the contextualization of British and South African nuclear politics. It defines Britain’s strategy and analyzes works on British interests relevant to understanding the major themes in South African nuclear politics. This chapter also evaluates the body of literature on the triggers of nuclear proliferation. Focusing on the key factors extracted from the literature survey, this chapter provides answers to the question on the extent of study and research in British and South Africa’s nuclear history, politics, and relations.

An Analysis of the Failed Technology Denial Strategy of Britain Towards South Africa

This chapter provides a historical examination of the special relationship between Britain and South Africa. It briefly defines the meaning of technology denial as an instrument for combating nuclear proliferation and describes diplomatic incidents and political environments that suggest that Britain adopted complacent approaches which ultimately negated the effectiveness of “technology denial” in the South African nuclear proliferation case. It traces the development of their unique, historically grounded significance and ties, in the context of interactions around nuclear weapons. If the general assumption is that technological capability is a prerequisite for a state to go nuclear, how is Britain implicated in the provision of such and how did this motivate South Africa to develop its indigenous nuclear weapons? Specifically, this chapter responds to the question: to what extent did British nuclear technology collaboration led to the development of South Africa’s technological capability?

A Comparative Analysis and Evaluation of “Emerging Powers” Nuclear Proliferation in the Global South

This chapter provides a comparative analysis and evaluation of Nuclear Proliferation Cases of “Emerging Powers” of India, Pakistan, Israel, and South Africa. This chapter undertakes a qualitative multistate comparison of nuclear weapons programs among these case study countries. The countries are known to have nuclear weapons in the 1970s and 1980s though without outright declaration of their nuclear capability. Against the premise of a mutual suspicion and hostility in a Cold War international Security and regional tensions, it seems nuclear weapons has found new destinations in the global South and making them emerging powers. The principal question of this chapter seeks to answer is what is the level of technological capability and the motivation behind these states’ decision to develop nuclear weapons? This chapter highlights these dynamics in comparative terms and with particular reference to the role of external agency in the process of nuclearization in these states.

A Methodological Framework for Nuclear Proliferation in the South

This chapter presents a methodological framework for nuclear proliferation and how the South African case may be situated. This chapter provides a unique prism through which nuclear proliferation can be methodologically understood. This is important due to the fact that nuclear-related data are largely undefined and states usually carry out nuclear activities in a clandestine manner. Nuclear politics and levels of advancement are shrouded in secrecy. Therefore, to ensure objectivity and the validity of data, a case study approach is projected as a viable method of analyzing nuclear history and politics. We cross-examined different sources of both primary and secondary information on the five recognized nuclear weapons powers—Britain, USA, Soviet Union, China, and France. This ensures the validity of the claims that we make in the study through the analysis of this material in the context of the cases.

Model Explanations of a Nuclear Powered South Africa

This chapter is devoted to the analysis and constructs of nuclear proliferation in South Africa. The analysis highlights the rationale for nuclear proliferation. It provides model explanations for South Africa’s nuclear weapons development and determines the nature of the political environment that conditioned decisions and outcomes. This chapter seeks to determine whether or not certain patterns of similarity or difference exist among the nations and to identify the significant factors influencing a nation’s nuclear options. Based on this comparison, this chapter also provides an overall evaluation of nuclear weapons programs in the case study countries.

A Conceptual Frame of Nuclear Proliferation in South Africa and the British Nexus

This chapter introduces the study and provides the overall background and identifies the problems of nuclear proliferation with follow-up questions as well as the significance of the research, provides conceptual clarifications, and outlines the theoretical framework and the significance of the study. This chapter provides the background and context for understanding of South Africa’s strategic position in an international system driven by strategic interests leading to the need for strategic weapons of mass destruction. It introduces a conceptualization of armament drive in South Africa in the era of apartheid and the inextricable links of the British government at the time to provide assistance to South Africa due largely to its historical connections, Commonwealth factor, economic arrangements, and the latter’s interest in South Africa’s uranium deposits, a vital resource which Britain could use as bargaining chip to ensure sustainability in a nuclear driven international system. While the British government was keen to improve economic ties with South Africa, diplomatically, it needed to keep the country at arm’s length in order to signal disdain for apartheid and to avoid “guilt by association.” The objective of this chapter is to problematize the South African uranium drives and nuclear proliferation from a global perspective along with other variables.