TRAVERSE CITY -- India's status as a nuclear power will be discussed at a Traverse City forum by Anne Harrington de Santana, a doctoral candidate at the University of Chicago.
Harrington de Santana will speak at Northwestern Michigan College at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Milliken Auditorium, part of the college's International Affairs Forum series. She will discuss a 2008 U.S.-India nuclear agreement and its potential impact on international nonproliferation efforts.
"After the Cold War, for a long period of time people stopped talking about nuclear weapons," she said.
The pact lifts a three-decade moratorium on nuclear trade between the U.S. and India. It's intended to provide American assistance to India's civilian nuclear energy program, though critics contend it reverses 50 years of U.S. nonproliferation efforts and undermines efforts to quell an Asian nuclear arms race.
Proponents argue the agreement brings the nations closer during a time when they are working together to fight terrorism, spread democracy and prevent Asian domination by a single power.
"I think that the advantages in terms of strengthening the strategic relationship with India do not outweigh the undermining of the forces of nonproliferation," Harrington de Santana said. She also questions whether the U.S.-India deal will spur other states to develop nuclear power and weapons programs.
Harrington de Santana won the 2009 McElvany Prize essay competition. Her essay titled "The Currency of Power" appeared in the November 2009 edition of "Nonproliferation Review."
Harrington de Santana also will meet with NMC economics, international relations and political science students, said John Zachman, NMC professor.
"It's a very important issue in terms of our Middle Eastern and Asian relationships and in terms of nonproliferation efforts," he said.
The eight-part IAF series began in September and continues next month with a lecture on immigration and asylum. That's followed by sessions on the international automobile industry in May and Middle Eastern culture in June.
Individual tickets are $10. Call 995-1700 for more information. Current educators and students are admitted free.
