Call for Papers: Nuclear Security Workshop

Building on previous workshops in 2021 (digital) and 2022, the Centre for International Security at the Hertie School is hosting another nuclear security workshop on July 6-7, 2023. As part of a research project on “Understanding Assurance, Deterrence, and Potential Nuclear Escalation in Europe” funded by the Stanton Foundation, the aim of the workshop is to facilitate exchange among a new generation of researchers from Europe and elsewhere who are studying nuclear security policy.

We are particularly interested in papers that deal with

• the role of (non-strategic) nuclear weapons in alliance assurance dynamics;
• the management of diverging assurance and deterrence needs in alliances;
• the potential consequences of assurance failure, the future of NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangement as well as possible options European states could and should pursue;
• the potential consequences of deterrence failure and nuclear escalation scenarios in the European theatre;
• or the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on nuclear dynamics in Europe and beyond (domestic politics in various countries, alliance politics, civil society actors…).

Should we receive enough submissions dealing with the impact of the Russian invasion on nuclear dynamics, Tobias Bunde (Hertie School) and Michal Onderco (Erasmus University Rotterdam) would like to work towards the publication of a special issue on the “nuclear Zeitenwende” in an international peer-reviewed journal.

The workshop sessions will take place at the Hertie School on July 6 and July 7, 2023. We will start with an optional dinner on July 5 for those arriving early, and conclude with an optional goodbye dinner on July 7. Although we would like to welcome participants at the Hertie School to facilitate informal exchange in person, we may also consider hybrid participation in selected panels. Please let us know if you are unable to travel but would like to participate virtually.

We are able to cover your travel expenses (economy fare) and accommodation costs (two nights for European and three nights for overseas participants), and are happy to assist you with the booking.

Please send an abstract of about 300 words via email to cis@hertie-school.org by April 16, 2023. If you require further information, please feel free to contact us at any point. We will decide on the workshop program and the participants by the end of April.