• Commentary
  • Research
  • Experts
  • Events
Carnegie China logoCarnegie lettermark logo
REQUIRED IMAGE
Book

Repairing the Regime: Preventing the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction

There has never been a better time for a new, comprehensive review of the troubled state of the international non-proliferation regime along with credible solutions for today's most pressing proliferation problems. Repairing the Regime, is just such a book.

Link Copied
By Joseph Cirincione and Ms. Kathleen Newland
Published on Apr 26, 2000

Additional Links

Table of ContentsChapter 1Chapter 9Chapter 12Appendix 1Appendix 2Appendix 3Appendix 4Appendix 5Appendix 6Appendix 7Appendix 8Chapter Updates

Source: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Routledge, May 2000

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) poses the single greatest threat to the national security of the United States. As Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has noted, "The greatest threat to our society at the moment are the weapons of mass destruction. Those are the weapons that know no boundaries." Yet efforts to stem the spread of these weapons suffered serious setbacks during the past year. Every week brought news of Iranian and North Korean missile tests; of the possible terrorist use of deadly biological and chemical agents; and, most dramatically, of nuclear tests in the deserts and mountains of South Asia.

There has never been a better time for a new, comprehensive review of the troubled state of the international non-proliferation regime along with credible solutions for today's most pressing proliferation problems. Repairing the Regime, is just such a book.

In early 1999, 450 experts from 17 nations attended the Carnegie International Non-Proliferation Conference in Washington DC, the most important annual gathering in the non-proliferation field. This collection reflects their passionate debates on the key issues, trends, and dilemmas facing all of us today. It provides strong arguments for both marshaling international resources to repair and sustain the global non-proliferation regime and for dealing concretely with the particular security concerns of the nations and regions most affected by contemporary threats.

Repairing the Regime looks at a multitude of strategies for strengthening controls on WMD and increasing security around the world.

  • Glittering array of contributors, including Carnegie President Jessica Mathew, UN Undersecretary Jayantha Dhanapal, National Security Advisor Sandy Berger, Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson, and UNSCOM Chief Richard Butler.
  • Provides a comprehensive review of the network of arms control treaties, agreements, and organizations.

Advance Praise

"An important book . . . Repairing the Regime will be of interest to scholars and practitioners alike."

—Jessica Stern, Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University and author of The Ultimate Terrorists

"[A]n invaluable resource and timely contribution to the range of troubling proliferation issues and strategies for addressing them offering a rich representation of official and well-informed NGO analyses at a time when the entire regime is at a crossroads."

—Robert Manning, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations

"Joseph Cirincione has assembled a veritable who's who of international experts . . .[the book's] great strength is the combination of rigorous historical analysis with creative policy prescriptions."

—Mitchell B. Reiss, Director, Reves Center for Intentional Studies, College of William and Mary

About the Authors

Joseph Cirincione

Former Senior Associate, Director for NonProliferation

Ms. Kathleen Newland

Former Senior Associate

Authors

Joseph Cirincione
Former Senior Associate, Director for NonProliferation
Joseph Cirincione
Ms. Kathleen Newland
Former Senior Associate
IranIraqCaucasusRussiaUkraineMilitaryForeign PolicyNuclear PolicyNuclear Energy

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Carnegie China

  • Commentary
    Malaysia’s Year as ASEAN Chair: Managing Disorder

    Malaysia’s chairmanship sought to fend off short-term challenges while laying the groundwork for minimizing ASEAN’s longer-term exposure to external stresses.

      Elina Noor

  • Commentary
    When It Comes to Superpower Geopolitics, Malaysia Is Staunchly Nonpartisan

    For Malaysia, the conjunction that works is “and” not “or” when it comes to the United States and China.

      Elina Noor

  • Commentary
    Neither Comrade nor Ally: Decoding Vietnam’s First Army Drill with China

    In July 2025, Vietnam and China held their first joint army drill, a modest but symbolic move reflecting Hanoi’s strategic hedging amid U.S.–China rivalry.

      • Nguyen-khac-giang

      Nguyễn Khắc Giang

  • Commentary
    China’s Mediation Offer in the Thailand-Cambodia Border Dispute Sheds Light on Beijing’s Security Role in Southeast Asia

    The Thai-Cambodian conflict highlights the limits to China's peacemaker ambition and the significance of this role on Southeast Asia’s balance of power.

      Pongphisoot (Paul) Busbarat

  • Trump and Xi on a red background
    Commentary
    Emissary
    China Is Determined to Hold Firm Against Trump’s Pressure

    Beijing believes that Washington is overestimating its own leverage and its ability to handle the trade war’s impacts. 

      • Sheena Chestnut Greitens

      Rick Waters, Sheena Chestnut Greitens

Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie China
Carnegie China logo, white
Keck Seng Tower133 Cecil Street #10-01ASingapore, 069535Phone: +65 9650 7648
  • Research
  • About
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Privacy
  • For Media
Get more news and analysis from
Carnegie China
© 2026 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. All rights reserved.