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Nuclear Arms Control: An In-Depth Look at its Role in Security

July 25, 2011 - July 29, 2011

 

(Photo: NYT)


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Location

U.S. Institute of Peace
2301 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20037

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Nuclear issues permeate many facets of contemporary international relations, U.S. foreign policy, and regional studies.  While the threat of a large-scale nuclear exchange decreased significantly with the end of the Cold war, the challenges of strategic stability and deterrence remain prominent in an increasingly complex and globalized world.

This course provides students and practitioners with a balanced, in-depth look at the objectives and evolution of strategic nuclear arms control from SALT I to the present day.  Students will examine critical decisions in arms control and the implications for world security, including challenges and potential avenues for a New START follow-on, and prospects for bringing third party countries into negotiations.  In addition, critical issues related to arms control are covered, including current U.S. nuclear policy, deterrence and extended deterrence, general overviews of weapons design and delivery systems, missile defense, strategic conventional strike, and the nuclear zero issue.  Finally, students will be exposed to the emerging fields of space and cyber security, and their implications for security and future arms control negotiations.

Students will sharpen critical analytical skills in assessing arms control issues and gain a better understanding of their broader impact through participation in group discussions and exercises.  They will apply lessons learned throughout the week to two realistic, scenario-based simulations.  One simulation challenges students to consider the implications of the development of a ballistic missile defense system by a third party.  The other places students in the role of U.S. and Russian officials as they balance domestic concerns and interagency conflicts in the negotiation of New START follow-on treaty.  

Guest lecturers will provide important current insight and insider perspectives into course topics.  Past guest speakers have included Steven Pifer, Elaine Bunn, Barry Blechman, Jennifer Laurendeau, and Elbridge Colby.

Testimony:
“Some people think arms control is arcane, but it has helped shape the political and security environment in which we all live, and it will be an essential part of the toolkit that peacebuilders of today and tomorrow will use to try to manage conflict around the world.  For anyone who wants to address, or just to understand, the nature of today’s challenges, it’s very important to understand how arms control works, and what it can and can’t do.  This course will give students that understanding.”

- Michael Lekson, Deputy Provost, Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding, United States Institute of Peace

 

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