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Commentary

Ok, Doomer! The NEVER podcast – How to save the world

Listen to the final episode of the NEVER podcast – Ok, Doomer! This episode takes a step back to assess what we’ve learned about existential and global catastrophic risks in previous episodes, and what comes next. Featuring a discussion of how ordinary people can get involved in existential risk mitigation, what ongoing efforts will prove most successful in creating a framework to deal on these topics, and how the example of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty demonstrates that global cooperation to deal with the biggest threats we all face is possible, even in a tense geopolitical climate.

20 September 2024 | Jane Kinninmont, Edan Simpson, Florian Ulrich Jehn, Nadine Andersen and Francis J. Gavin
EDTsEmerging Disruptive Technologies and risk reductionBiosecurityClimate changeDemocracyEmerging technologiesGovernanceInternational LawNEVERNuclear WeaponsPodcastsUnited NationsWMDs
Commentary

Nuclear posture and cyber threats: Why deterrence by punishment is not credible – and what to do about it

The United Kingdom’s latest nuclear doctrine suggests that severe cyber-attacks on their national or critical infrastructure could provoke a nuclear response. Despite this, cyber-attacks against the UK have surged over the past decade. Eva-Nour Repussard, YGLN member and Policy Fellow at BASIC, writes that instead of deterrence by punishment, the UK should seek to increase its resilience to cyber-attacks and focus on a strategy of deterrence by denial regarding cyber threats.

19 September 2024 | Eva-Nour Repussard
EDTsJRCTEmerging Disruptive Technologies and risk reductionCyberDefenceEmerging technologiesHybrid warfareMilitary DoctrineNATONuclear Arms ControlNuclear SecurityNuclear WeaponsSecurityUnited KingdomWMDs
Commentary

The Women Leaders podcast: Events unabated

The Women Leaders podcast, hosted by ELN Senior Associate Fellow Ilana Bet-EL, is back after the summer break! In “Events unabated” Ilana is joined by Jodi Rudoren, Editor in Chief of the Forward and former New York Times Bureau Chief in Jerusalem. They discuss the rapidly changing realities of US politics and the changing gender roles within them, the prospects of both presidential candidates’ policies on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the appalling lack of women in the negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians — and elsewhere too.

6 September 2024 | Ilana Bet-El and Florence Ferrando
Russia-West relationsChinaDefenceDemocracyDiplomacyEuropeForeign policyGenderMiddle EastPodcastsRussiaRussia-West RelationsUkraineUnited States
Commentary

Strengthening the Chemical Weapons Convention in Africa: The role of civil society and global south participation

In pursuit of comprehensive chemical security and to strengthen the CWC across the African continent, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) should enhance cooperation with civil society organisations by establishing structured and sustained dialogue, amplifying their voices, and supporting projects promoting CWC ratification and implementation. Kudakwashe Mapako writes that addressing the current challenges faced by civil society organisations from the global south is a first step.

13 August 2024 | Kudakwashe Mapako
Multilateral arms control, disarmament and non-proliferationArms ControlSecurity
Commentary

Ok, Doomer! The NEVER podcast – Fake brains and killer robots

Listen to the fifth episode of the NEVER podcast – Ok, Doomer! In this episode, we explore artificial intelligence and its relationship with existential risk. Featuring an introduction to the topic, why we should be especially wary when integrating AI with nuclear weapons systems, the role of AI in arms control, how best to regulate AI on the global level and what international institutions are best placed to do so, as well as historical perspectives on technological change and its impact on our cultural understandings of existential risk.

2 August 2024 | Jane Kinninmont, Edan Simpson, Alice Saltini, Konrad Seifert and Nicolò Miotto
Emerging Disruptive Technologies and risk reductionArms ControlConventional Arms ControlCTBTDiplomacyEmerging technologiesGovernanceInternational LawNEVERPodcastsWMDs
Commentary

The EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act: A golden opportunity for global AI regulation

Today, the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act comes into force. NEVER member and Digital Policy Consultant Julie Lübken argues that the EU’s AI Act, pre-dating similar efforts to regulate AI in the UK and the US, could lay the groundwork for global AI governance. She writes that the legislation should also mark the start of a discussion with other countries, such as China, for a worldwide effort, engaging with policymakers, businesses, and civil society, to better understand AI, harness its potential and mitigate risk.

1 August 2024 | Julie Lübken
EDTsEmerging Disruptive Technologies and risk reductionChinaDemocracyEmerging technologiesEUEuropeGovernanceInternational LawNEVERUnited States
Commentary

Why Iran’s missile strikes pose a real problem for Pakistan

Recent conventional skirmishes between Iran and Pakistan highlight the fact that having nuclear weapons does not guarantee that the ‘have nots’ will refrain from pursuing military action against a nuclear-armed state and all the associated escalatory risks that entails. ELN Senior Policy Fellow Dr Rishi Paul writes that in light of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the fact that Pakistan is not a signatory to the NPT, it is incumbent upon Islamabad to build the appropriate bilateral mechanisms to prevent any potential future escalations that could come about should Iran join the nuclear ‘club’.

25 July 2024 | Rishi Paul
IranNPTMultilateral arms control, disarmament and non-proliferationNPT ProjectArms ControlDefenceDeterrenceIranNPTNuclear Arms ControlNuclear DisarmamentNuclear SecurityNuclear WeaponsPakistanRisk ReductionSecurityWMDs
Commentary

Deterrence of non-nuclear strategic threats: the case against deterring new technologies

The US, Russia, and the UK have explicitly stated their intention to deter non-nuclear strategic threats from new technologies with nuclear weapons. ELN Senior Policy Fellow Julia Berghofer writes that this could have destabilising effects, opening the door to new vulnerabilities and escalation risks. The N5 should discuss these policies as part of their longstanding dialogue on nuclear doctrines, and a public debate is required to explore potential alternative approaches.

23 July 2024 | Julia Berghofer
JRCTNPTEmerging Disruptive Technologies and risk reductionMultilateral arms control, disarmament and non-proliferationNPT ProjectEmerging technologiesNPTNPTProjectNuclear SecurityNuclear WeaponsSecurity