In this study, the impact of NATO's post-Cold War nuclear policy on international security, and the role of Turkey in this context, has been analysed. The main thesis of this study is that the role of nuclear weapons in NATO's security policy has diminished compared to the Cold War era, and has lost its military value almost completely. Hovewer, the struggle between the Russian Federation and NATO on BMD and the recent Ukranian crisis are expected to change the understanding of nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons will play a more important role in NATO's security policies.
The first part of the study discusses the theoretical framework of nuclear weapons. How international theories consider nuclear weapons, and why countries try to acquire nuclear weapons, are also discussed. Additionally, deterrence and non-proliferation theories are analysed theoritically.
The second chapter discusses NATO's nuclear weapons policy during the Cold War and its impact on international security. Massive response and flexible response strategies are discussed mainly in this context. US and NATO nuclear weapons policies are analysed together because of their interrelation. The difference of approach between the US and its European allies became one of the main problems during this process.
The last chapter discusses NATO's post-Cold War nuclear policy and its impact on international security. Tactical nuclear weapons and WMD proliferation became the center of the topic. BMD, which is one of the most important topic related to nuclear weapons in the post-Cold War, is analysed in a different chapter. Finally, the role of Turkey in this process and how it was affected by NATO's nuclear policy are reviewed. |