Abstract
This thesis critically explores the expansion of nuclear energy as a pivotal, yet contentious element situated in the complex intersection of decarbonisation imperatives, energy security demands and evolving geopolitical realities. Through the use of case studies of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Türkiye and Bangladesh, the research explores how national context (captured through economic, social, political and environmental indicators) can be analysed using a Nuclear Vulnerability Framework. This Framework is used to assess the indigenous capability, institutional capacity and geopolitical incentives of the case study counties and examine how national contexts shape the vulnerabilities and prospects of adopting nuclear power.Through a comparative analysis informed by the Framework, this study demonstrates that the implications of domestic nuclear development are not uniform. The UAE illustrates how rigorous governance, transparency and robust international cooperation can position a civil nuclear program as a positive model for strengthening non-proliferation norms. In contrast, Türkiye’s centralised governance structure and ambiguous security environment reveal how the same technological advances can raise concerns about latent hedging and strategic ambiguity. Bangladesh’s experience highlights the acute safety and security vulnerabilities that can emerge when limited institutional capacity and significant external dependence accompany nuclear ambitions, even when the program’s intent remains unequivocally peaceful. The three case studies underscore that the dual-use nature of nuclear technology continues to pose an enduring governance challenge as nuclear power expands into new areas across the Middle East and Asia. Ultimately, this thesis argues that the twenty-first-century nuclear landscape requires a renewed commitment to balancing universal access to civil nuclear technology with measures that reinforce global nuclear security and non-proliferation norms. Reconciling these imperatives remains one of the most complex and consequential challenges in contemporary international governance.