What Drives Nuclear-Aspiring States? The Cases of Iran and North Korea

Why do states want to acquire nuclear weapons? In other words, what drives nuclear-aspiring states? This is the basic question that author seeks address in this research. To so, research will focus on two standout cases: Iran and North Korea. By employing structural realism as a tool of analysis, argues it structure international system both Korea weapons their own. Specifically, highly unequal distribution power regionally globally encourages go nuclear. At global level, found themselves hostilities with much more powerful state, United States. The fact States way increase fear being attacked countries. Similarly, at regional face neighbors are relatively have alliances Thus, imbalance created give them great incentive nuclear, would act deterrent against any possible aggression. qualitative based literature study data collection method. Keywords: Nuclear proliferation; national security; capabilities; REFERENCES Abulof, Uriel. 2014. "Revisiting Iran’s rationales." International Politics 51(3), 404-415. Albright, David, Andrea Stricker. 2010. "Iran’s Program." Primer: Power, Politics, US Policy, edited by Robin Wright, 77-81. Washington, D.C.: Institute Peace Pres. Bowen, W.Q., J. Brewer. 2011. challenge: Nine years counting." Affairs 87(4): 923–943. Chubin, S. 2007. "Iran: Domestic politics choices." Strategic Asia 2007–08: Political Change Grand Strategy, A.J. Tellis, M. Wills N. Bisley, 301–340. Washington DC: National Bureau Asian Research. Cronin, Patrick 2008. "The Trouble Korea." Double Trouble: Challenges Security, 79-89. Wesport: Praeger Security Buszynski, Leszek. 2021. "North Korea's Diplomacy." Routledge Handbook Contemporary Korea, Adrian Buzo, -170. Oxon: Routledge. Donnelly, Jack. 2005. "Realism." Theories Relations, Scott Burchill, Andrew Linklater, Richard Devetak, Jack Christian Reus-Smit Matthew Paterson Jacqui True, 29-54. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Greitens, Sheena Chestnut. 2020. "Proliferation mass destruction." Globalization World Politics: An Introduction John Baylis, Steve Smith Patricia Owens, 465-480. Oxford: Oxford University. Hobbs, Christopher, Moran. Exploring Regional Responses Iran. Ikenberry, G. John, Michael Mastanduno, William C. Wohlforth. "Introduction: unipolarity, systemic consequenses." relations theory consequences Mastanduno Wohlforth, 1-32. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Jackson, Robert, Georg Sørensen. 2013. Relations: Approaches. Van. 2018. On Brink: Trump, Kim, Threat War. Jørgensen, Knud Erik. Relations Theory: A New Introduction. London: Palgrave. Kaufman, Joyce P. Concise History U.S. Foreign Policy. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Krauthammer, Charles. 1990. Unipolar Moment." 70(1), 23-33. Mærli, Morten Bremer, Sverre Lodgaard. "Introduction." Proliferation Bremer Mærli Lodgaard, 1-5. Mearsheimer, Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams Realities. Haven: Yale —. 2001. Tragedy Power Politics. York: WW Norton Company. J., Stephen Walt. Israel Lobby Farrar, Straus Giroux. Pollack, Jonathan D. No Exit: Weapons Security. Popoola, Akin, Deborah Ebunoluwa Oluwadara, Abiodun A. Adesegun. 2019. Nucler Context Realist Review." European Journal Social Sciences 58(1), 75-82. Porter, Patrick. 2015. Global Village Myth: Distance, War Limits Power. Georgetown Sharma, Anu. 2022. Through Looking Glass: Its Relations. Smith, Shane. "Nuclear Korean Policy." 141-154. Tagma, Halit E. "Realism Understanding Explaining Iranian 'Crisis', Tagma Paul Lenze Jr., 65-103. Lanham: Lexington Books. M.E, Jr. 'Crisis'. Books, Taylor, Steven Robert Bogdan, Marjorie L. DeVault. 2016. Qualitative Research Methods: Guidebook Resource. Jersey: Wiley Sons, Inc. Thomas, Garth. 2017. " Realism And Impact Korean, South Chinese Programs (." Master's Thesis. Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University, August. Accessed June 27, https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/bitstream/handle/1774.2/60434/THOMAS-THESIS 2017.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. Viotti, R., Mark V. Kauppi. 2012. Theory. Boston: Longman. Vromen, Ariadne. "Debating Rediscovering Approaches." Theory Methods Science, David Marsh Gerry Stoker, 249-266. Waltz, Kenneth 1979. Reading: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Kenneth. 2000. "Structural after Cold ." 25(1), pp. 5– 41. Yonhap News Agency. not up weapons: Mearsheimer . March 20. May 18, 2023. https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20180320010200315.