ABSTRACT
This chapter puts forth the questions and ideas that the book is going to explore and what it offers. The larger question that this book explores is: Does there exist a possibility of developing and strengthening a global nuclear command and control (C2) norm based on standardised policies, mechanisms, and procedures to ensure safe and secure conduct of nuclear operations? The answer is that there exists such a possibility. In this regard, this book offers a set of dynamics that could form a global norm for nuclear C2 serving as a standard for new entrants in the nuclear club. As evident from the comparative study of nuclear C2 of Britain, China, India, and Pakistan, despite several differences among these nuclear weapon states (NWS), there is a central set of factors that remains constant over time and space. This further indicates that there exist commonalities in the development of nuclear C2 by different countries. The chapter further provides a review of scholarly work conducted to study nuclear C2 to help situate this research within the existing literature followed by brief nuclear histories of four NWS. In the end, structure of book is provided.
