Rethinking the Strategy, Law, and Ethics of Nuclear Weapons

Session Submission Type: Full Paper Panel

Session Description

The evolving global landscape, one of personalistic politics and potential proliferation, presents a crucial moment to revisit questions on the strategy, law, and ethics of nuclear weapons. This panel will present new research to address three aspects of nuclear politics and strategy that remain understudied: the role of law, ethics, and public opinion. To what degree does law, as an institution of rules and regulations, constrain nuclear decision-making? To what degree does public opinion on nuclear weapons and the use of force act as a constraint or a goad to political leaders? How do ethical concerns influence judgements about nuclear proliferation? This panel will stimulate discussion on the future of nuclear weapons, proliferation, and stability.

Sub Unit

• DIVISION 19: International Security

Individual Presentations

• Is War a Legal Emergency? Implications for the Permissibility of Nuclear Strikes - Janina Dill, University of Oxford

• The Law of Armed Conflict and Nuclear Responses to Limited Attacks - Scott D. Sagan, Stanford University; Allen S. Weiner, Stanford Law School

• Reducing U.S. Public Support for Using Nuclear Weapons - Scott D. Sagan, Stanford University; Benjamin A. Valentino, Dartmouth College

Chair

• Joan Rohlfing The Nuclear Threat Initiative

Discussants

• Robert Kehler

• Joan Rohlfing The Nuclear Threat Initiative