This is a delphi paper, based on the article, written by William Walker. It includes the international order, role of weapons of mass destruction, and its implications on the order and how the global powers assert to maintain the order through the weapons of mass destruction.

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A Delphi Paper

Weapons of Mass destruction and

The International Order (William Walker)

Muhammad Irfan

Introduction

"Prevention is better than cure". The commonly used proverb means it is better to prevent a misfortune if you can than to find a remedy for it after it has taken place. Military strength is a crucial element of national power that enables a state not only to ensure its security but also to compel others to behave in the way the state wants. The advancement in technology has added fuel to fire and made the military might the most hazardous instrument on the earth. 

by Official U.S. Navy Imagery

Weapons of mass destruction, which include biological weapons, nuclear weapons, and thermonuclear weapons, are seen as unique development in the sphere of military technology that has enhanced the military strength at one hand and have "obsessed international order" at the other hand [1].

During Cold War, the nuclear weapon was developed for self defense and for the purposes of "deterrence" [2]^. At that time, the world experienced the bipolar system, the Warsaw pact countries, headed by Union of Soviets Socialist Republic, and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) countries, led by United States of America, having adversarial relations with each other. Hence, efforts were utilized on deterrence, a capability that prevents adversary from undertaking aggression.

The Cold War rivalry has ended since the USSR has disintegrated in 1991, which made changes in international order. Some other incidents have taken place like "Indian and Pakistani test explosions, the international dispute over missile defense and the anti-ballistic missile treaty, the breakdown of the United Nations special committee in Iraq, the emergence of a more deadly terrorism exemplified by the 9/11 attacks, the war on terrorism and the unearthing of covert transnational supply network" [3].

These incidents have also changed the international order and necessitated the restraint over the deadly weapons. This paper is intended to highlight the dynamics, concerned with the weapons of mass destruction. The core questions of the topic include.

1.    What is international order?

2.    How do weapons of mass destruction affect international order?

3.    What about the role of WMD in 1nternational order in the Post Cold-War era?

4.    How did the breakdown of WMO order take place?

5.    What are suggestions?

6.    Conclusion?

International Order:

International order refers to a system in which a number of states work under an organized mechanism, find out the ways to solve the problems, and conclude agreements to cooperate with each other. Although no particular definition of international order exists yet William Walker says, "International order is an ability to solve problems and manage change with upheaval [4]." United Nations Organization is the body that maintains international order.

At international level, states compete with each other to maximize their national interests. The competition creates misunderstanding, which leads them towards adversarial relations. The adversarial states develop arms in great numbers when they perceive each other as a serious threat. This arms race generates more chances of war escalation. In this situation, international organizations and order play its role to make the less chances of war and utilize efforts to reduce the arms race.

William Walker has used a term "hegemonic order" [5] in his article. Hegemony refers to capability through which a powerful state dictates other states to follow her policies and demands them to behave in the way the state desires. Order is also a set of process to solve problem with upheaval: Then hegemonic order means a powerful state having the capability to dictate other states and to change the system by utilizing its influence. Today, United States of America can be seen as a state with "hegemonic order at international level." The reasons include (A) it is the state that posses the most powerful military muscle. (B) Technologically, it has the most advanced industrial base in the world. (C) It possesses a tremendous economy. (D) It leads the most powerful military alliance "NATO" (E) United Nation organization is the voice of the sole superpower. (F) It has influence over world's economic institutions like I.M.F. (International Monitory Fund) and World Bank. All these factors enable it to dominate the world, economically, politically, and militarily. The question arises if USA, maintaining "hegemonic order" [6] over the world, plays a true role to stabilize the world. 

The answer is "no" because it has become biased. To achieve its own national interests, it violates the international law, norms, values, and treaties, which develop a sense of deprivation among other states. At one hand, it opens a treaty to control stockpiles of conventional or non-conventional weapons. At the other hand, it violates it and provides umbrella to the favorite states like India and Israel. This subjective attitude develops a sense of deprivation among other states like Iran. Hence, they start counter efforts that push the world toward "instability" and the international order becomes inadequate.

Weapons of mass destruction and international order

A nuclear bomb was developed by USA in 1940s to exploit its military superiority. So it upset the balance of power between East and West. U.S.S.R emphasized its effort on reviving the B.O.P by developing its on nuclear device in 1949. The presence of nuclear weapon on both side maintained the world stable and safer.  

The war was justified by US administration and its allies as to release Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. The war against terrorism was started when terrorists targeted World Trade Centre in New York on September 11. Then following weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, a military campaign was started by US against Iraq to save the world from the so-called Iraqi WMDS. Before waging a war, the efforts for "the multilateral disarmament of Iraq" [8] were utilized. In Iraq UNSCOM (United National Special Committee) was established and accordingly inspectors were sent to Iraq to monitor the Iraqi industrial facilities, suspected for WMDs development. Was Saddam Hussein really developing WMD? The answer is "no". Because UNO inspectors reported that there was no WMD found in Iraq. Further, George W. Bush has confessed that it was the failure of intelligence regarding Iraqi WMD [9].

The breakdown of WMO order

In contemporary era, the world has also experienced some critical incidents that destabilize the international order. These incidents include (i) in May 1998 India and Pakistan conducted nuclear tests [10]. In this saga, the nuclear bomb emerges as a weapon of peace because India threatens and blackmails Pakistan when it develops its nuclear programme. Pakistan has to start nuclear programme to counter the threat. Accordingly, India could not wage a war against Pakistan despite the extreme crisis between the two countries. (ii) Terrorist attacks in New York [11] in September 11, opened a new era of great powers behavior and the efforts were utilized to curb the menace of terrorism. The matter of great concerns was the terrorist organizations access to the WMDs. Hence, the weapons attracted the attention of world community, because the stability and peace of the world might be jeopardized if these organizations procure the nuclear weapon in the form of dirty bomb. This development is in accordance with the outlook, presented by Scot D Sagan in the chapter two of the book, "the spread of nuclear weapons" and he explains a more distrustful assessment of the consequences of nuclear proliferation, which is based on the organizational theory [12].

The weapon of mass destruction like nuclear bomb creates fears of punishment into adversary's mind, which leads towards balance of power. B.O.P. is a level that ensures stability and peace. That is why the states, perceiving threats from outside, attempt to develop or acquire "the weapon of peace". As a well-known scholar, namely Kenneth, said, "Nuclear weapons make the war less likely as the history is seen. When states perceive threats from outside and find the international players biased, they involve in the activities, aimed at acquiring the weapons: The Dominant States do not allow the states to have the capability. This type of development shows that WMD influences the "international order".

Suggestions

The following features can be taken into account to improve international order in the presence of WMDs.

-    The major powers should not be biased. They should play their true role to make the world stabilized. For example, USA provides nuclear facilities, reactor, and knowledge to Israel to develop nuclear weapons but does not allow the countries, hostile to Israel in Middle East, to do so. This behavior pushes the countries like Iran and Iraq towards the feeling of deprivation and the feelings of insecure. Therefore, they start their own programme.

-    United Nations Organization should be more powerful and independent to maintain rule of law over the world. It should not be voice of a sole super power. It should protect the weaker states from aggression. For this purpose, it should have its own economy. It should build up its own powerful military which may enforce the rule of law.

-    The states perceiving external threats should either develop their own weapon or make an alliance with a powerful state having nuclear weapons. For example, Pakistan developed its own nuclear bomb to check the Indian nuclear blackmailing. Turkey made alliance with the western block during cold war by joining the NATO, to deter the Soviet aggression. Kenneth's position about nuclear weapons looks more relevant.

Conclusion

International Order is a hierarchical system at international level, aimed at to bring peace and stability. It is relevant to solve the issues and to save the world from the horrors of wars. Therefore, there should be a rule of norms and values. Those states follow the policies of antagonism, should remove the aggressive policies and cooperate with other states and the more there would be cooperation among the states, the more international order would be conducive. For this purpose, the idealistic approach is more relevant, which emphasizes on peace, prosperity, cooperation and non-violence behavior of the states.

End Notes

Authors Website: https://vision-313.blogspot.com

Authors Bio:

Muhammad Irfan has authored many books. He is an internationally recognized scholar. He has presented his papers in national and international conferences. He is also a freelance journalist and contributes to both national and international print media. Currently, he runs two blogs.