Nuclear justice mechanisms: addressing nuclear legacies in Kazakhstan and the Marshall islands

Abstract

Nuclear injustice, rooted in the humanitarian consequences of nuclear explosions, is a critical issue in the ongoing nuclear weapons discourse. Communities affected by nuclear weapons testing suffer from the aftermath of long-ago halted programs, yet their struggles remain inadequately addressed. Given the potential resumption of nuclear testing due to the rising tensions in Europe, it is crucial to revisit nuclear justice mechanisms in the context of nuclear testing. This will contribute to creating a systematic and internationally-sustained approach to tackling future cases of nuclear injustices and addressing past ones appropriately. By conducting a qualitative comparative case study of two nuclear testing programs, run by the US program on the Marshall Islands and the Soviet Union in Kazakhstan, this thesis provides a nuanced review of the unique features and similarities and highlights the critical gaps in the application of justice mechanisms. To analyze and categorize them, this study enhances the four-pillar approach of transitional justice - truth-seeking, prosecution, reparations, and guarantee for non-recurrence - with a fifth pillar of memory and commemoration and improves it with the feminist approach to justice that encompasses social and cultural dimensions. The study's findings show that the fundamental mechanisms, including financial compensation, social benefits, environmental remediation, healthcare assistance, and formal acknowledgment of responsibility, face challenges due to deep political and social stigma. Therefore, to achieve a sustainable resolution of past and future nuclear injustices, it is essential to consider unconventional approaches such as capacity-building, raising awareness, and incorporating the voices of those affected into policymaking.