Nuclear Weapons
The Henry L. Stimson Center's collection of scholars has made it a leader in creating pragmatic solutions to the many nuclear problems the world has confronted over the past eighteen years. From arms control to nonproliferation to confidence-building measures to denuclearization, the Stimson Center has shown that its expertise ranges across the vast spectrum of nuclear weapons issues. This archive serves to highlight some of the Stimson Center's most important publications related to nuclear arms. For a summary of Stimson's work on nuclear weapons, READ MORE »
Current Research
Unblocking the Road to Zero Country Series » The Stimson Center’s Unblocking the Road to Zero project seeks to examine the perspectives of nuclear-armed and threshold countries in hopes of unblocking the road to zero nuclear weapons in the world and helping all responsible governments perceive negotiated nuclear disarmament as a viable and practical policy option. READ MORE »
Leveraging the National Laboratories’ S&T Capabilities for 21st Century Security » Providing a strategic framework for leveraging the diverse scientific knowledge at the US Nuclear Weapons Laboratories would not only help overcome political barriers to rationalizing the US nuclear footprint, but also help to meet the country’s broader national security needs. This project will convene a senior-level task force to formulate an R&D strategy for achieving a 21st century national security enterprise. READ MORE »
Proliferation » Stopping the spread of nuclear weapons to both states and terrorist groups is a high priority for the international community. Despite the international nonproliferation regime's relative success in containing nuclear weapons, stemming proliferation is a difficult task that requires an abundance of diplomatic and military tools. READ MORE »
Risk Management » The Stimson Center works to reduce the risks associated with nuclear weapons. Beginning with the Hotline Agreement in 1963, nations have agreed to work together to reduce the possibility that nuclear war could begin by misunderstanding or accident. READ MORE »
Regional Challenges » Across the globe, unique challenges are posed by states with nuclear capacity and those seeking to develop nuclear weapons capability. Stimson works to promote pragmatic steps toward preventing regional nuclear proliferation and to manage nuclear risks in regions where states have acquired nuclear weapons. READ MORE »
Strategic Doctrine » Alongside the evolution of nuclear weapons, nations developed strategic principles to regulate the impact of these weapons on international relations. Stimson research addresses the challenges of disarmament through the recommendation of international safeguards, as well as assessing US positions on mutually assured destruction (MAD) and deterrence. READ MORE »
Terrorism and Response » The threat of a non-state actor using a nuclear device has risen remarkably in recent years. The international community needs to develop appropriate safeguards to prevent the use of nuclear technology in a terrorist attack, and establish adequate response mechanisms should such an incident occur. READ MORE »