I DESIRE, THEREFORE I PROLIFERATE

Abstract

It is rare to find a well-formulated study that describes the behavioral aspects of leadership in the political realm. Even more infrequent is a combined study of individual behaviors as it applies to a large techno-political issue such as nuclear proliferation. India, Argentina, Australia, and France are used as cases for application of a national identity conception model. The model is based on two dimensions, solidarity and status, that when combined, result in a leader's identification with other nations’ abilities to be a player in the nuclear arms community. While the work is behavioral in context, there is no effort to avoid the technological side of proliferation, so as to provide a balanced review of a complex issue.

Keywords:

• Human factors of nuclear proliferation
• Leader behaviors
• Social comparison
• National identity conception

Notes

1. Industrial Psychology (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1905 ) pp. 13–14.

2. “Comments on Steven Davies: Social/Political/Psychological Identity,” Gloria Origgi, Paris, France, Friday March 3, 2006 <http://gloriaoriggi.com.html>.