RE: The Arab World before Islamism
March 5, 2017 at 10:43 am
(This post was last modified: March 5, 2017 at 11:28 am by Anomalocaris.)
Actually, the UN Security Council permanent membership of 5 consisted of the major combatants on the winning side of WWII, and was determined when only the US had any serious nuclear weapons program.
From 1945-1949 the US was the only nuclear power. From 1949-1958 the Soviet Union, England and France developed nuclear weapons. Mainland china developed nuclear weapons by 1963, but mainland china was not a even a member of UN at the time, much less a permanent member of the security council. At the time Taiwan held the permanent seat in the UN Security Council as the successor of nationalist china that won WWII. In 1972 mainland china took over taiwan's seat. For the first time all 5 Veto members of UN Security Council were nuclear powers and no other power is thought to yet possess nuclear weapons.
But In 1974, India carried out her first nuclear test. In 1979 Israel is believed to have carried out her first nuclear test. In the late 1980s South Africa is believed to have built, but not tested, a small stockpile of nuclear weapon, in 1998 India and Pakistan both tested numerous nuclear weapons and began a overt nuclear buildup, and in 2006 North Korea caries out her first nuclear test.
Thus the period from 1972-1974 was the only period in UN history when the only 5 veto wielding members also happen to be the only 5 members of the nuclear weapons club.
Incidentally, in 1968 the 5 nuclear powers decided to set a system, outside the UN because china wasn't a member of UN, where they declared themselves to be the only 5 countries that can legitimately possess nuclear weapons. All other states who would acquire nuclear weapons are illegitimate. This is of course very convenient to the 5 states.
This framework has continued to color attitude towards nuclear nonproliferation down to the present day.
From 1945-1949 the US was the only nuclear power. From 1949-1958 the Soviet Union, England and France developed nuclear weapons. Mainland china developed nuclear weapons by 1963, but mainland china was not a even a member of UN at the time, much less a permanent member of the security council. At the time Taiwan held the permanent seat in the UN Security Council as the successor of nationalist china that won WWII. In 1972 mainland china took over taiwan's seat. For the first time all 5 Veto members of UN Security Council were nuclear powers and no other power is thought to yet possess nuclear weapons.
But In 1974, India carried out her first nuclear test. In 1979 Israel is believed to have carried out her first nuclear test. In the late 1980s South Africa is believed to have built, but not tested, a small stockpile of nuclear weapon, in 1998 India and Pakistan both tested numerous nuclear weapons and began a overt nuclear buildup, and in 2006 North Korea caries out her first nuclear test.
Thus the period from 1972-1974 was the only period in UN history when the only 5 veto wielding members also happen to be the only 5 members of the nuclear weapons club.
Incidentally, in 1968 the 5 nuclear powers decided to set a system, outside the UN because china wasn't a member of UN, where they declared themselves to be the only 5 countries that can legitimately possess nuclear weapons. All other states who would acquire nuclear weapons are illegitimate. This is of course very convenient to the 5 states.
This framework has continued to color attitude towards nuclear nonproliferation down to the present day.
