GBH Openvault
War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Carter's New World; Interview with Muchkund Dubey, 1987
Part of War and Peace in the Nuclear Age.
02/21/1987
Muchkund Dubey spent most of his career in Indias foreign service, rising to become Foreign Secretary in 1990. His involvement with nuclear matters began in 1982 when he was named his countrys permanent representative to the U.N. in Geneva and led Indias delegation to the conference on disarmament. In the interview he discusses Indias strong support for nuclear disarmament, and is adamant that New Delhi has no intention of acquiring nuclear weapons. He calls for a freeze in nuclear development, testing, and production, insisting that the Non-Proliferation Treaty is not doing enough because it treats the nuclear weapons states and non-nuclear weapons states unequally, and does not require the complete eradication of such weapons from all countries. He also discusses Indias skepticism of the peaceful nature of the Pakistani nuclear program, and comments on reports of Chinas cooperation with it. He explains that India does not wish to participate with Pakistan in creating a nuclear free zone because he does not believe such zones can exist because of the nuclear capabilities of the superpowers. He therefore would only accept a global nuclear free zone. He argues that U.S. attempts at non-proliferation have not been very effective, and he briefly comments on the United States attitude toward Pakistans program. He concludes with remarks on Indias space program, the problem of nuclear terrorism, and several further observations on Pakistan.
License Clip
- Series
- War and Peace in the Nuclear Age
- Program
- Carter's New World
- Program Number
109
- Title
Interview with Muchkund Dubey, 1987
- Series Description
The first atomic explosion in the New Mexico desert on July 16, 1945, changed the world forever. This series chronicles these changes and the history of a new era. It traces the development of nuclear weapons, the evolution of nuclear strategy, and the politics of a world with the power to destroy itself.
In thirteen one-hour programs that combine historic footage and recent interviews with key American, Soviet, and European participants, the nuclear age unfolds: the origin and evolution of nuclear weapons; the people of the past who have shaped the events of the present; the ideas and issues that political leaders, scientists, and the public at large must confront, and the prospects for the future. Nuclear Age highlights the profound changes in contemporary thinking imposed by the advent of nuclear weapons. Series release date: 1/1989
- Program Description
President Carter comes to office determined to reduce the number of nuclear weapons and to improve relations with the Soviet Union. His frustrations are as grand as his intentions.
Carter had hoped the United States and the Soviet Union would reduce their reliance on nuclear weapons. He stopped production of the B-1 bomber. He believed the SALT II negotiations would be a step toward eliminating nuclear weapons. But his intentions were frustrated by Soviet actions and by a lack of consensus among his own advisors, including Chief SALT II negotiator Paul Warnke and national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski (who was dubious about arms control). Carter balanced Soviet aggression in Africa by improving American relations with China. He withdrew SALT II treaty from Senate consideration but its terms continued to serve as general limits on strategic nuclear force levels for both the United States and the Soviet Union.
- Duration
00:35:41
- Asset Type
Raw video
- Media Type
Video
- Subjects
- United Nations
- Nuclear-weapon-free zones
- Nuclear nonproliferation
- China
- Pakistan
- Israel
- Nuclear winter
- Nuclear disarmament
- South Africa
- United States
- Nuclear weapons
- Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (1968)
- India
- Genres
- Documentary
- Topics
- History
- Science
- Global Affairs
- War and Conflict
- Contributors
- Dubey, Muchkund (Interviewee)
- Publication Information
- WGBH Educational Foundation
- Citation
- Chicago: “War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Carter's New World; Interview with Muchkund Dubey, 1987,” 02/21/1987, GBH Archives, accessed April 20, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_45B24FF2EBE64711BDA284862FFB3D08.
- MLA: “War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Carter's New World; Interview with Muchkund Dubey, 1987.” 02/21/1987. GBH Archives. Web. April 20, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_45B24FF2EBE64711BDA284862FFB3D08>.
- APA: War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Carter's New World; Interview with Muchkund Dubey, 1987. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_45B24FF2EBE64711BDA284862FFB3D08