Acts of war have been a feature of civilization since the dawn of humanity. As technology advances, we are forced to deal with new and more dangerous constructs used in conflict. Over the past sixty years, the greatest of these threats has come in the form of nuclear weapons. After being proposed by a number of scientists at the beginning of the 20th century, in 1939 a team of German chemists achieved the feat of nuclear fission, the process of splitting atoms to release energy (Levin 9) . This scientific advance was notably used in 1945 by the United States of America against Japan when two bombs exploded. As a result, more than 100,000 people died, and many more died from the side effects of radiation (Levin 9). There are currently nine states that possess nuclear weapons, and the United Nations reports that more than thirty other states have the capability to produce them (Mattern 563). This article will answer the following question: does nuclear proliferation constitute a serious threat to international security? It will then demonstrate that nuclear proliferation, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, poses a threat to international security due to the inherent danger of the weapon, the potential instability of rogue states and non-state actors, and the negative effects of proliferation on the international scene. cooperation. After these three arguments have been stated and analyzed, two counterpoints will be discussed and briefly argued. The paper will then conclude and outline the implications of this conclusion. The topic of nuclear proliferation carries incredibly important implications for humanity as a whole. As will be demonstrated in the pages to come, the danger of nuclear weapons technology cannot be hidden in the middle of paper...... uh? The Sino-Soviet Crisis of 1969." Political Science Quarterly 118.1 (2003): 53-79. ProQuest. Web. February 27, 2012. Levin, Carl, and Jack Reed. "Toward a More Responsible Nuclear Nonproliferation Strategy. " Arms Control Today 34.1 (2004): 9-14. ProQuest. Web. February 27, 2012. "Loose Nukes." Council on Foreign Relations, nd Web. February 29, 2012. Mattern, Douglas. Peace Review 19.4 (2007 ): 563-569. EBSCOhost Web, March 2, 2012. Park, Jihye. “A new way to detect secret nuclear tests: Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, August 18, 2011. Richard. “Nuclear Weapons Don't Kill People, Thieves Do” International Politics 44 (2007): 232-249 Web... 2012.