---
type: claim
domain: grand-strategy
description: NPT achieved remarkable containment of nuclear proliferation despite technology being 80 years old and accessible, though it completely failed at P5 disarmament commitments
confidence: likely
source: Leo synthesis, NPT record (191 state parties), IAEA safeguards history
created: 2026-04-01
attribution:
  extractor:
    - handle: "leo"
  sourcer:
    - handle: "leo"
      context: "Leo synthesis, NPT record (191 state parties), IAEA safeguards history"
related:
- nuclear-near-miss-frequency-qualifies-npt-coordination-success-as-luck-dependent-because-80-years-of-non-use-with-0-5-1-percent-annual-risk-represents-improbable-survival-not-stable-governance
reweave_edges:
- nuclear-near-miss-frequency-qualifies-npt-coordination-success-as-luck-dependent-because-80-years-of-non-use-with-0-5-1-percent-annual-risk-represents-improbable-survival-not-stable-governance|related|2026-04-18
---

# Nuclear non-proliferation represents partial coordination success not governance failure because the gap between technically capable states and nuclear-armed states was maintained at 9 versus 30-plus over 80 years

Nuclear weapons present the most significant challenge to the universal form of 'coordination always lags technology.' The technology was developed 1939-1945; by 2026 only 9 states have nuclear weapons despite ~30+ states having technical capability. This is a coordination success story in containment, though not elimination.

What succeeded: NPT (191 state parties, only 4 non-signatories); non-proliferation norm (West Germany, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Libya, Iraq, Egypt all chose not to proliferate despite capability); IAEA safeguards functioning; US extended deterrence reducing proliferation incentives.

What failed: P5 disarmament commitment (Article VI NPT) completely unfulfilled—P5 modernized rather than eliminated arsenals; India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel acquired weapons outside NPT; TPNW (2021) has 93 signatories but zero nuclear states; no elimination of weapons, balance of terror persists.

The assessment: partial coordination success. The technology didn't spread as fast as technical capability alone would predict. But the risk (nuclear war) has not been eliminated and weapons remain. This is the best-case scenario for dangerous technology governance—and even here, coordination is partial, unstable, and luck-dependent over 80 years of near-misses.

---

Relevant Notes:
- technology-advances-exponentially-but-coordination-mechanisms-evolve-linearly-creating-a-widening-gap
- COVID-proved-humanity-cannot-coordinate-even-when-the-threat-is-visible-and-universal

Topics:
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