International Security

Research Essay Questions:

1. Is deterrence an effective strategy to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons to rogue states and international terrorists? Why or Why not?

2. Security scholars are divided on whether the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty is capable of reform or needs to be abandoned in favour of a new regime. Evaluate the arguments for and against.

3. On 5 April 2009, in a speech in Prague, Czech Republic, US President Barrack Obama made a public commitment that the United States would take ‘concrete steps' toward nuclear disarmament. He said:

"Today, I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons. I'm not naive. This goal will not be reached quickly -- perhaps not in my lifetime. It will take patience and persistence. But now we, too, must ignore the voices who tell us that the world cannot change. We have to insist, "Yes, we can."

How likely is it that President Obama's dream of a nuclear free world will be achieved in the next 50 years? What are the main impediments to the achievement of this goal?

4. How effective have US and NATO counter-insurgency strategies been in Afghanistan since 2001?

5. Traditional notions of ‘security' focus on external threats to the state's survival. To what extent does the threat posed by global terrorist organisations challenge this traditional notion of ‘security'?

Word Length: 2,500 words.