Date of Award

Fall 11-18-2020

Document Type

Undergraduate Honors Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Department

Political Science & International Relations

Advisor

Dr. Randy Willoughby

Abstract

This thesis will assess the practicality of implementing nuclear energy into India’s power system by considering different security risks, political factors, and COVID-19 complications. Access to energy is essential to modern survival because it contributes to the safety, success, and overall well-being of individuals; allowing for a better acquisition of food, education, and industry necessities. A big concern for India has been the inability to give energy access to millions of citizens that live in no proximity to a power grid, and this has shown to correlate with a lower quality of life. Another concern for India is the search for a cleaner energy source that could serve as a suitable replacement for these environmentally unfriendly sources. Thus, nuclear power is on the forefront of these alternative energy discourses because of its classification as a zero-emission energy source. However, nuclear proliferation is seen as an extremely controversial topic because of its potential to be materialized as a means to disrupt the global order and India’s relationship with nuclear power is extremely complex due to its influence on national security. This assessment will include the most recent data found on India’s current relationship with nuclear power sourced from a number of scientific journals, government agencies, energy commissions, and academic databases. The ultimate goal is to analyze both the benefits and the potential risks that come with promoting nuclear proliferation and whether the potential of nuclear energy outweigh the hazards.

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