NUCLEARREV | Towards a Third Nuclear Age? Strategic Conventional Weapons and the Next Revolution in Global Nuclear Order

Summary
The world stands on the cusp of a major transformation in nuclear affairs. This paradigmatic shift is being driven by the development and deployment of an entirely new class of strategic weaponry, facilitated by the latest information revolution. The most important characteristics of these weapons are that they are all hi-tech and non-nuclear; that they can be used against an adversary’s nuclear forces, and that they are increasingly able to augment and even replace nuclear weapons for key national security functions. Taken together, we can think of these of these systems as Strategic Conventional Weapons (SCW), and as representing a fundamental challenge to the way that our nuclear world is managed. SCW raise questions about deterrence strategy, mutually assured destruction, future arms racing and arms control, and how best to retain and maintain global nuclear stability and peace. NUCLEARREV will therefore provide the first ever systematic scholarly study of SCW, make the case for a paradigmatic shift in nuclear studies, set the stage for a complete rethinking of the global nuclear order. The main research question is: How will Strategic Conventional Weapons change the Global Nuclear Order? To answer this the objectives are to: Chart the SCW phenomenon, globally; Analyse how SCW will impact regional nuclear relations and balances; Examine what the development of SCW means for the frameworks and dogma that govern international nuclear relations; Make the case for a revolution in nuclear affairs and define the embryonic Third Nuclear Age. This urgently required research will provide the landmark study of this phenomenon and the centrepiece for a whole new generation of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary work on nuclear affairs. The project combines interviews with politicians, defence contractors, scientists, bureaucrats, and experts across the world; an innovative War Game exercise, as well as extensive archival research and Regional Feedback Workshops.
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More information & hyperlinks
Web resources: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/866155
Start date: 01-08-2020
End date: 31-01-2026
Total budget - Public funding: 1 642 826,00 Euro - 1 642 826,00 Euro
Cordis data

Original description

The world stands on the cusp of a major transformation in nuclear affairs. This paradigmatic shift is being driven by the development and deployment of an entirely new class of strategic weaponry, facilitated by the latest information revolution. The most important characteristics of these weapons are that they are all hi-tech and non-nuclear; that they can be used against an adversary’s nuclear forces, and that they are increasingly able to augment and even replace nuclear weapons for key national security functions. Taken together, we can think of these of these systems as Strategic Conventional Weapons (SCW), and as representing a fundamental challenge to the way that our nuclear world is managed. SCW raise questions about deterrence strategy, mutually assured destruction, future arms racing and arms control, and how best to retain and maintain global nuclear stability and peace. NUCLEARREV will therefore provide the first ever systematic scholarly study of SCW, make the case for a paradigmatic shift in nuclear studies, set the stage for a complete rethinking of the global nuclear order. The main research question is: How will Strategic Conventional Weapons change the Global Nuclear Order? To answer this the objectives are to: Chart the SCW phenomenon, globally; Analyse how SCW will impact regional nuclear relations and balances; Examine what the development of SCW means for the frameworks and dogma that govern international nuclear relations; Make the case for a revolution in nuclear affairs and define the embryonic Third Nuclear Age. This urgently required research will provide the landmark study of this phenomenon and the centrepiece for a whole new generation of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary work on nuclear affairs. The project combines interviews with politicians, defence contractors, scientists, bureaucrats, and experts across the world; an innovative War Game exercise, as well as extensive archival research and Regional Feedback Workshops.

Status

SIGNED

Call topic

ERC-2019-COG

Update Date

27-04-2024
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Horizon 2020
H2020-EU.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE
H2020-EU.1.1. EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
ERC-2019
ERC-2019-COG