367' There is finally the consideration that a decisicn by a trrecliurn--lever nuclear Po\'rer to taxget nuclear weapons aqainst a super:power .^rouid invite couniertarget ing by that super-Porn'€r. once having resorted tl the use of nuclear weapons, a me.ium* levei nucLear power vould- ttrerefore be sut,lecteJ to a much greater amount of destruction tha.n it r,ras itself able to inriict.- This again raises basic orrostion<of credibllity for the mediuro_Ievel nuclear power. The non".nuclear-weapon States 368. n:nong the various concerns that might promFt a non *nuclear _veapon State toconsider acquiring nuclear veapons J the que;tio; ot tne ir,rpaci- on -ii"..n"tiorr.r s€curity must pls.y a central roIe. rt thu"" are no good security argument s r.or an accluisition a'. if, cn the contrary, goo. argr:rcent s point the "t;., ;;;, then thecase for becoming a nuclear.-ueapon stat€ should be a dubicus one. rrrere is.,however " an obvious difficulty in proving this point at a time r,ihen the nuclear.-rnreapon states are continuing the devel0pment of their nuclear arsenals at a fast pace' Their exa'nple is a bad one. rt attows a Justification for other states toacquire nuclear veapons. At the same tirne, the technjcal af,ld economj.c difficultiesin going nuclear are gradually decreasing vith time" as discussed in chapter rr. ]59' Ntc*r" wealrons have already been used in war against a non-nucr-ear,weaponstate, Japan. rt is therefore not inconceivable that a state rrhich found itseff in conflict r"rith a nucr-ear--r{eapon state might incur the use or the threat of use ofnucrear weepons. such a coursc of action is becoming increasingly unlikely, partlybecause of the development of the perception of a threshold. a€lainst the use ofnucfear weapons in lu'ar and because of the concern that the use of such lreapons wouldrisk a spread ox an escalation of the conflict.r\/ 35 / 392 _8i11[_L f Sn linnex Page 120 3TO, This situation maye however, not be a stable one' The super-Povers. in particular, have developed substantial arsenals of tactical nuclear leapons. Thrir
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the risks and implications of nuclear weapons, particularly in the context of international relations and security. It touches on the concerns of non-nuclear weapon states, the development of nuclear arsenals, and the potential consequences of using nuclear weapons. The text seems to be exploring the strategic and political considerations surrounding nuclear weapons, rather than any specific economic, environmental, or social issue.

**Category**
Science and technology, International relations