Why do States Pursue Nuclear Weapons (or Not)

摘要: This essay traces the evolution of literature on rationale behind states' pursuit nuclear weapons, from classical neorealist explanations focusing relative power to neoliberal institutionalist ones underlining deterrent institutions and constructivist work impact norms, status, identities. We call attention their contributions as well conceptual empirical deficiencies introduce an approach that links both ambition restraint models domestic political survival. The inclusion this previously overlooked independent variable harnesses utility extant approaches, allowing more effective weighing other causal variables, while accounting for variation over time, across within states. take stock recent employing quantitative qualitative approaches identify agenda advancing theories explaining why some states pursue weapons whereas others do not.