Ideational Understanding of the Indo-Pakistan Nuclear Rivalry

Abstract

Most of the existing discussions of the nuclear ambitions of states have neglected hidden ideational factors of nuclearisation. This chapter attempts to fill this gap by analyzing prevailing literature on the Indo-Pakistan nuclear rivalry. India and Pakistan have had a history of conflict with each other since the partition in 1947. The conflict is based on divisions of two religious groups, Hindus and Muslims, and extended to an identity crisis which later turned to a bilateral conflict between two nations. The nuclear test in 1974 diverted the conflict into a novel dimension. The study conceptualizes the factors of nuclear ambitions (material and ideational) of two nations using the model of the iceberg. A constructive psychological theory to analyze the moral orders of social actions and duties of participants to act in certain issues is given. Constructivism is used as the foundation of the proposed ideational framework.