ABSTRACT
One of the mysteries within the study of International Relations is why states that are capable of developing nuclear weapons do not build them. Many states in the world are able to build nuclear weapons, which are generally considered as the most powerful military weapons available. Potential nuclear weapons capability will be defined here as possessing the infrastructure needed to build nuclear weapons within a limited time frame. Many of the states which have decided to build a nuclear reactor developed a potential nuclear weapons capability only in an indirect way, desiring nuclear infrastructure for civil purposes. It will be no surprise that most of these states did not exploit their indirectly acquired nuclear weapons potential – indeed they never intended to do so. Domestic Politics appears to be a highly influential factor, more than one would expect when considering that this motivational factor started to receive academic attention only relatively recently.
