Viewing Nuclear Weapons Through a Humanitarian Lens
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UNIDIR Viewing Nuclear Weapons through a Humanitarian Lens through Weapons Nuclear Viewing There is renewed and deep international concern about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that would result from the detonation of nuclear weapons in populated areas. Yet 25 years after the end of the Cold War, nuclear weapons and nuclear deterrence remain central to the security doctrines of a significant number of states. Drawing on a range of perspectives, this volume explores what viewing nuclear weapons through a humanitarian lens entails, and why it is of value. Recent developments in this respect are also examined, as well as what these could mean for nuclear arms control in the near future. UNITED NATIONS INSTITUTE FOR DISARMAMENT RESEARCH Viewing Nuclear Weapons UNITED NATIONS through a Humanitarian Lens Designed and printed by the Publishing Service, United Nations, Geneva GE.13-01395 — September 2013 — 2,500 — UNIDIR/2013/4 John Borrie and Tim Caughley editors United Nations Publication Sales No. GV.E.13.0.1 ISBN 978-92-9-045202-7 UNIDIR/2013/4 Viewing Nuclear Weapons through a Humanitarian Lens John Borrie and Tim Caughley Editors UNIDIR United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research Geneva, Switzerland New York and Geneva, 2013 About the cover Satellite image of Mexico City courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey. NOTE The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. * * * The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the individual authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the United Nations, UNIDIR, its staff members or sponsors. UNIDIR/2013/4 Copyright © United Nations, 2013 All rights reserved UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATIONS Sales No. GV.E.13.0.1 ISBN 978-92-9045-202-7 eISBN 978-92-1-056366-6 The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)—an autonomous institute within the United Nations—conducts research on disarmament and security. UNIDIR is based in Geneva, Switzerland, the centre for bilateral and multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation negotiations, and home of the Conference on Disarmament. The Institute explores current issues pertaining to the variety of existing and future armaments, as well as global diplomacy and local tensions and conflicts. Working with researchers, diplomats, government officials, NGOs and other institutions since 1980, UNIDIR acts as a bridge between the research community and governments. UNIDIR’s activities are funded by contributions from governments and donor foundations. www.unidir.org v CONTENTS Foreword ..............................................................................................ix About the authors ...............................................................................xi Introduction ........................................................................................ 2 The contributions in this volume ................................................... 9 Acknowledgments ........................................................................ 13 Chapter 1: Tracing notions about humanitarian consequences Tim Caughley .................................................................................... 14 Summary ..................................................................................... 14 Background ........................................................................... 14 Significance of the expression of concern ................................. 15 Evolution of the notion of humanitarian consequences in law ............................................................... 15 Humanitarian consequences: current context .................... 18 Factors contributing to recent changes in disarmament discourse and strategy .......................................................... 22 Conclusion ................................................................................... 27 Chapter 2: Viewing nuclear weapons through a humanitarian lens: context and implications John Borrie ....................................................................................... 29 Summary ..................................................................................... 29 Context ........................................................................................ 29 For and against a humanitarian lens ......................................... 31 Transforming unpropitious environments ................................ 35 Evidence of humanitarian consequences .................................. 35 Reframing .................................................................................... 36 Restructuring discourse .............................................................. 37 Constructively upsetting the status quo through successive phases of cooperative effort ....................................................... 38 Building blocks ........................................................................... 40 Implications ................................................................................ 41 vi Chapter 3: Legitimizing and delegitimizing nuclear weapons Nick Ritchie ........................................................................................ 44 The importance of legitimacy ..................................................... 45 Legitimizing nuclear weapons ..................................................... 46 NPT ................................................................................................ 47 The state system ........................................................................... 49 Hegemonic moral certitude ......................................................... 52 Delegitimizing nuclear weapons ................................................. 55 The NPT’s legitimacy deficit ......................................................... 56 Negative legitimacy and consent ................................................ 60 Illegitimacy and humanitarianism .............................................. 62 Legitimacy, validity, and global order ......................................... 70 Conclusion .................................................................................... 75 Chapter 4: The meaning of the Oslo Conference on the humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons Patricia Lewis and Heather Williams ............................................... 78 Introduction ................................................................................ 78 The Oslo Conference: background to the initiative ................... 79 Oslo Conference: objectives ....................................................... 80 Oslo attendance .......................................................................... 83 A new discourse, a new forum ..................................................... 87 Conclusion .................................................................................... 93 Chapter 5: After Oslo: humanitarian perspectives and the changing nuclear weapons discourse John Borrie and Tim Caughley ........................................................ 95 Summary ..................................................................................... 95 Introduction ................................................................................ 95 Context ........................................................................................ 96 Reactions of the NPT nuclear-weapon states ............................ 97 What “steps”? ............................................................................ 100 Do new initiatives on curbing nuclear weapons fail to relate to NPT goals? ............................................................................. 105 Do the high-level meeting, OEWG, and Oslo Conference initiatives undermine faithful implementation of the 2010 NPT Action Plan? ............................................................... 108 vii Should nuclear disarmament only be dealt with through established channels? ................................................................ 112 Conclusion .................................................................................. 115 Chapter 6: Responding to the detonation of nuclear weapons: a United Nations humanitarian perspective Simon Bagshaw .............................................................................. 118 The humanitarian impact of a nuclear weapon detonation ... 121 United Nations humanitarian response in the case of nuclear accidents .................................................................. 123 United Nations humanitarian response in the case of a nuclear weapon detonation ............................................... 125 Conclusion ................................................................................ 128 Chapter 7: The catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons: the key issues and perspective of the International Committee of the Red Cross Lou Maresca .................................................................................... 131 The revelations of Hiroshima .................................................... 131 Is there a capacity to assist the survivors of a nuclear detonation? .................................................................. 133 Nuclear weapons and international