By Michael Krepon and Sameer Lalwani

We are pleased to announce the release of the complete, inaugural Stimson Open Online Course, Nuclear South Asia: A Guide to India, Pakistan, and the Bomb. This unique course — which provides a certificate of learning for those who wish to know more about the triangular nuclear competition among Pakistan, India, and China — is now available free of charge at www.nuclearlearning.org.

Nuclear South Asia consists of an introductory chapter and six additional chapters. These chapters cover nuclear history, nuclear policies and postures, the global nuclear order, nuclear crises and crisis management, and confidence-building and nuclear risk-reduction measures. The final chapter looks to the future of “nuclear South Asia,” and features commentary on the second coming of multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs), India’s no-first-use policy, and India and Pakistan’s determination to move nuclear weapons to sea.

Nuclear South Asia draws from the expertise of over 80 leading practitioners and scholars — nearly half from the region — who have graciously lent their time to help launch this course. The course offers 64 video lessons, each with diverse perspectives, allowing course-takers to think for themselves and to develop a deeper understanding of the dynamics of nuclear dangers in this region. Our goal is to provide an emerging generation of strategic analysts in India, Pakistan, China, and around the world direct access to the most serious thinkers available on these issues.

Among the experts who appear in this course are:

• Rabia Akhtar, Director, Centre for Security, Strategy, and Policy Research, University of Lahore
• Linton Brooks, Chief U.S. Negotiator, Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
• Lisa Curtis, Former Senior Adviser to the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State
• Toby Dalton, Co-Director, Nuclear Policy Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Feroz Khan, Former Director, Arms Control and Disarmament Affairs, Strategic Plans Division, Pakistani Army
• Vipin Narang, Mitsui Career Development Associate Professor of Political Science, MIT
• George Perkovich, Vice President for Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Robin Raphel, Former Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State
• Scott Sagan, The Caroline S.G. Munro Professor of Political Science, Stanford University
• Naeem Salik, Senior Fellow, Centre for International Strategic Studies, Islamabad
• Shyam Saran, Former Indian Foreign Secretary
• Teresita Schaffer, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East and South Asia, U.S. Department of State
• Manpreet Sethi, Senior Fellow, Centre for Air Power Studies, New Delhi
• Rakesh Sood, Former Indian Ambassador
• Ashley Tellis, Former Senior Adviser to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Read the full list of course lecturers.

For a glimpse into the success we have enjoyed thus far, see the course impact story.

To enroll in the course, visit www.nuclearlearning.org and click the “Enroll for free” button. All you need to do is enter your name and email address, create a password, and click “Create Account.” Then dig in.

We at the Stimson Center are dedicated to building a vibrant online community around nuclear learning. If we have earned your trust, please “like” our Facebook page and “subscribe” to our YouTube channel in addition to enrolling in the course at www.nuclearlearning.org.

We welcome your feedback. We hope you will enroll in the course and achieve your certificate.

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Michael Krepon is Co-founder of the nonpartisan Stimson Center. Sameer Lalwani is Deputy Director of Stimson’s South Asia program.

Photo credit: Department of Defense, Government of India and Pakistan Army