THE CHOICES PROGRAM BROWN UNIVERSITY
VIDEO COLLECTION

The Challenge of Nuclear Weapons

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Part I: The Problem of Nuclear Weapons

Why did the United States develop nuclear weapons?
Why did other countries develop nuclear weapons?
What is deterrence?
What was the Cuban Missile Crisis?
What is the rationale for the United States and Russia having thousands of nuclear weapons?
How did the end of the Cold War change international relations?
Why are some countries allowed to have nuclear weapons and others not?
Why do some states have nuclear weapons and others do not?

Part II: Three Challenges—Cold War Arsenals, Proliferation, and Terrorism

What are the dangers of nuclear weapons?
Why does the United States want to prevent nuclear proliferation?
What do you think about the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)?
What is the history of Iran’s nuclear program?
What is at stake in the negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program?
What is the status of Iran’s nuclear program?
Why are non-proliferation efforts focused on Iran and North Korea?
How could the international community prevent Iran from producing nuclear weapons?
Why did North Korea develop nuclear weapons?
What is the status of North Korea’s nuclear weapons program?
Are there examples of “close calls” when nuclear weapons were almost used?
Are there examples of countries that have given up their nuclear weapons?
What are examples of states that ended their nuclear weapons programs?
Why did Brazil end its nuclear weapons program?
Why are nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation important?
How expensive is the U.S. nuclear weapons program?
Is it really possible to eliminate nuclear weapons?

Lesson: Joining the Debate on U.S. Policy

How do you think our country should deal with nuclear weapons in the future?
What is deterrence?
Does nuclear deterrence work?
What is deterrence?
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