Russia nuclear threats accompanying its war of aggression against Ukraine have underscored that nuclear weapons remain a defining feature of global politics. All nuclear-armed states are investing in new warheads or delivery systems (or both), and more states may seek to acquire nuclear weapons in the future. Concurrently, key arms control agreements from the past have unraveled or are under severe pressure. This occurs at a time when great-power tensions are increasing, and the development of new technologies may challenge previous assumptions about strategic stability.
The course begins with a general overview of the impact that the invention of nuclear weapons has had on international politics. We will then revisit key debates in the theoretical literature on nuclear weapons and discuss the historical evolution of nuclear strategies. The final part of the course will address contemporary and future nuclear challenges (and the corresponding policy debates) and consider whether the world is indeed entering a new (and more dangerous) nuclear age, as well as the implications of such a development.
Instructor
- Tobias Bunde , Professor of International Security