***UPDATED for 2024/25***
This course leads students on an exploration of nuclear weapons policies. It is structured in four blocks: a first section examines the origins and evolution of nuclear policies following the discovery of radioactivity and the development of nuclear weapons. In other words, it looks at the “nuclear revolution” and analyses how it changed our world, giving shape to the historical era known as the Cold War. This is followed by an overview of the history of arms control, both in its multilateral and bilateral dimensions. In a second step, we examine the intellectual foundations of nuclear possession, on the one hand, and the idea of nuclear disarmament, which is followed by an exploration of key debates in the field, such the “nuclear taboo” and the risks posed by nuclear proliferation. The fundamentals of nuclear weapons history and the academic debate now gives way to current affairs and the policy perspective. The role of two key organisations is revisited: the United Nations, which bears key responsibility for disarmament and arms control, and the EU, which has recently upgraded its role in the field. Practitioners invited as guest speakers share their experiences at each of these organisations. The course also explores the use of sanctions to stem proliferation, and concludes by looking into the meaning(s) ascribed to nuclear weapons in international relations.
Learning Outcomes
1. Understand how nuclear weapons and their representation are used in today's security world.
2. Develop a detailed knowledge of a range of global security, foreign policy and normative controversies associated to these weapons.
3. Learn to analyse the efforts to control nuclear weapons and their outcomes, using a multidisciplinary perspective.
4. Hone the ability to synthesise complex information in a concise and policy-relevant manner.
5. Explore the key ethical, political and practical considerations at play in international nuclear weapons policy
Professional Skills
Public speaking, analysis, interpreting data from a range of sources, concise writing style.