Frayssinet, A.-S. (2021). Nuclear technology: the “Thin Line” between weaponization and peaceful uses [Master Thesis, Technische Universität Wien]. reposiTUm. https://doi.org/10.34726/hss.2021.91906
In the context of globalization and energy transition, sophisticated communications enable an easier access to nuclear related knowledge, material, and technologies. These changes make the work of responsible authorities such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in monitoring and regulating nuclear facilities more difficult. With the help of the Weaponization Score Index, a tool explicitly created within this paper, this study hopes to demonstrate that while the existing nuclear legal framework efficiently limits and prevents potential nuclear proliferation risks through a full range of legal agreements, a country with an advanced civilian nuclear program, if wanted, can easily transition from peaceful use of nuclear technology to manufacturing nuclear weapons. To do so, nine countries were strategically chosen: Pakistan, Canada, Iran, South Korea, Germany, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and Ghana, with regards to their civilian nuclear program position. Based on 16 relevant drivers, among them: Human Resource Development, Nuclear Fuel Cycle, and Engineering and Design, the Weaponization Score Index enables a classification of the nine countries in four categories of matter that are Dormant, Latent I, Latent II, and Limited Capabilities. Pakistan, used as reference, reached the highest score of 54. Results of this study showed that countries such as Iran, Japan, Germany, South-Korea or South-Africa, classified into Dormant (40-54), possess most of the required capabilities to operate this transition. In order to thicken the line between peaceful uses of nuclear technology and weaponization, potential solutions will be presented in conclusion.