Publications

In this paper, Tim Caughley reviews past and present nuclear weapons verification activities and current proposals to eliminate these arms. More specifically, he explains 1) what constitutes ‘verification’, to include its compliance mechanisms; 2) the international verification commitments that currently exist; 3) the role international organizations play in promoting adherence to international weapons treaties, and much more.chevron_right

Today, Pavel Podvig takes stock of the long-gestating Fissile Material Treaty, which would ban the production of such substances for nuclear weapons, and the growing consensus that surrounds its implementation. There are, however, definitional, verification and disposal problems that still need to be worked out.chevron_right

This paper outlines global developments in nuclear disarmament between 2013 and early 2016. Among other issues, the text’s authors look at 1) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s efforts to create a nuc...chevron_right

This publication synopsizes the results of the UNIDIR 2016 Outer Space Conference, which dealt with a variety of issues and processes that are critical to maintaining space as a peaceful domain. The specific topics covered included 1) the varying perspectives that exist on the current space security regime...chevron_right

This paper covers the topics that were discussed and the conclusions that were drawn at the 2016 Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG), which was established by the UN General Assembly to help bring nuclear disarmament negotiations forward. More specifically, the...chevron_right

This publication examines the ways in which explosive weapons, particularly in populated areas, could impede the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The goals that the text specifically addresses include...chevron_right

In today’s featured publication, Marten Zwanenburg highlights the domestic measures being taken by the Netherlands to combat the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. The options can include criminal prosecution, freezing financial and material assets, depriving individuals of their nationality, and the revoking of travel documents.chevron_right

Because of war’s inherently interactive nature, victory often depends on which side is able to recognize the gaps in its performance most quickly and then adapt accordingly. In this article, Francis Hoffman does an uncommon thing. He explores how the US military tried to close strategic-level gaps in Afghanistan, particularly in its late 2009 (and beyond) surge.chevron_right

This quick reference chart lays out the initial negotiating positions of three of Syria’s most important opposition groups that are currently participating in the Vienna Process. The positions are 1) ...chevron_right

Yes, here’s Stratfor's global forecast for what it anticipates will be an unsettling year. Among other things, we are likely to see 1) Turkey making a military move into Northern Syria while also trying to enlarge its footprint in Northern Iraq; 2) the fragmentation of Mexico's criminal groups; 3) the decline of the ANC in South Africa, etc.chevron_right

This brief predicts that the greatest source of uncertainty in 2016 will be China. The reason, quite simply, is its economy. If it continues to falter and Beijing’s responses to the problem are not pe...chevron_right

This brief argues that Turkey and the PKK should urgently resume peace talks to reverse the spiral of violence and mistrust that exists between them. More specifically, the paper focuses on 1) the ini...chevron_right

This paper examines the major stumbling blocks to unifying and reforming the peshmerga (army) forces of Iraqi Kurdistan. The impediments include 1) the long-standing distrust between the Kurdistan Dem...chevron_right

Have the November 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris pushed the internal and external parties involved in the Syrian Civil War to reappraise their military strategies against the so-called Islamic State?...chevron_right

This report assesses the impact of the nuclear Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran's domestic and foreign policies. The text's authors also examine the domestic circumstances that permi...chevron_right