Why Nuclear Disarmament Matters

by Hans Blix

From the former UN head weapons inspector in Iraq, a plea for a renewed global disarmament movement. In 2002 Dr. Hans Blix, then chief United Nations weapons inspector, led his team on a search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Before the United States went to war with Iraq the next March, he maintained there were no WMD in Iraq. History proved him right. For more than forty years Dr. Blix has worked on global disarmament, and with this new book he renews the call for nuclear nonproliferation. His interests, though, go beyond stemming the threat of nuclear attack from rogue states and terrorists. It is not, he argues, a recipe for success for nuclear states to tell the rest of the world that it must stay away from the very weapons that nuclear states claim are indispensable. We will never be able to convince rogue states to halt the pursuit of nuclear weapons programs unless we take the lead in a new nonproliferation and disarmament movement. Looking back at the UN post-World War II efforts against the use of nuclear weapons, Blix documents the retreat from early commitments by nuclear powers, most alarmingly from pledges against first use and toward programs to develop new types of nuclear weapons. He urges us to revive these efforts, and that the world's powers also look at issues of global disarmament and security as pieces of the same puzzle. Why Nuclear Disarmament Matters includes specific suggestions—how the UN can set the stage for a credible multilateral disarmament and nonproliferation process; what kind of treaties would be most helpful—and recommendations for regional policy, including providing the Middle East with enriched uranium for civilian nuclear power production but not allowing uranium enrichment there. From March 2000 to June 2003 Hans Blix was Executive Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC). Dr. Blix, author of Disarming Iraq , is Chair of the Swedish government's Commission on Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Genres: Nonfiction

95 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2008

Reviews

[SAAD SHAUKAT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blix’s central idea is that nuclear disarmament is both a moral imperative and a practical necessity. He contends that eliminating nuclear weapons is achievable through strengthened global norms, effective verification, and renewed international cooperation. The book serves as a policy-oriented manifesto urging great powers to move from deterrence toward genuine disarmament.
Ideal for students and scholars of International Relations, Security Studies, and Arms Control Policy, as well as policymakers and civil-society advocates seeking a concise yet authoritative account of why disarmament remains vital.
It is less suited for readers seeking detailed empirical data or theoretical models—its strength lies in policy advocacy and normative reflection.
Blix’s brief volume combines moral clarity, diplomatic wisdom, and pragmatic policy advice. While limited in depth, it offers a compelling practitioner’s vision for restoring global momentum toward disarmament. It serves as an essential bridging text linking IR theory, global governance and real-world security policymaking.

[Nitin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eminently insightful book which, I think, every person should read. Nuclear Disarmament is the need of the hour considering the fact that the threat of more than 50,000 nuclear warheads capable of destroying human civilization hung over the world.
The author rightly asserts, "A crucial mark of a civilised society is that the citizens have given up the personal possession of arms and conferred upon public authorities a monopoly on the right to possess and use arms in accordance with the law. "

[Seven Pesos · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a United Nations brochure. Hans writes a bland, inoffensive primer on the failures of nuclear disarmament. Very short read. Very much old & perhaps outdated. This book came out 15 years ago.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit odd he never mentioned the IPNDV.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important.