ABSTRACT
This book deals with the proliferation of every type of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). It considers, however, nuclear weapons as being the ultimate WMD and therefore places more emphasis on the consequences of their spread. The crux of the horizontal nuclear proliferation problem has been whether it might increase the probability of the use of nuclear weapons (although other consequences, such as destabilizing specific regions through costly and risk-prone arms races should not be underestimated).1 There has been considerable disagreement between analysts on this question for at least three decades.2
