BASIC and ICCS is organising an online roundtable with young professionals and experts to discuss maritime risk reduction in the Asia Pacific through the Nuclear Responsibilities Approach.
In depth thinking
BASIC provides expert analysis and commentary on selective contemporary debates in strategic affairs. To do this, we engage diverse perspectives, encourage empathy across states, and broaden the context of debate. We have an established reputation for non-partisan, non-judgmental, cross-cultural engagement and for seeking common ground.
We aim to make our writing readable and interesting to both experts and the general public, cutting through jargon and democratising debate. If you’d like to write for us, contact us here.
To browse our analysis thematically, visit our Programmes.
Latest Analysis
BASIC publishes on a range of nuclear policy issues, beyond the reach of our Programmes, and we welcome contributions from guest authors and contributors.
Staff Picks
Below, we select some of our favourite pieces which we think you should read:
Vacancy: Finance Manager
Read more here about the latest opportunity to join the BASIC team. Applications for BASIC Finance Manager close 29 September 2022.
Marion Messmer Stepping Down as Co-Director
Marion Messmer (Co-Director) is departing on 9 September 2022 after four successful years with BASIC,…
Where You Stand Is Where You Sit: Language and Perception in the Programme on Nuclear Responsibilities
In the last of our series on nuclear responsibilities in the Asia-Pacific, Ruhee Neog highlights the centrality of making the linguistic move from claims to be acting as a ‘responsible nuclear state’ to the responsibilities in practice that follow from possessing nuclear weapons.
Youth Recommendations for the Tenth NPT RevCon (BASIC-ROK-UNODA)
Read ‘Youth, Non-Proliferation and Disarmament: Recommendations from Early-Career Experts to the Non-Proliferation Treaty’ here. Read…
Video: Exchange on Youth Recommendations (BASIC-UNODA-ROK NPT 2022 Side Event)
On Thursday 11th August, BASIC, alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, hosted the final session of a side event series to the Tenth NPT Review Conference, on ‘Advancing the ‘Youth, Non-Proliferation and Disarmament’ Agenda’.
THIS MONTH’S THEME
The Trident Question
The UK’s continued possession of Trident is not assured. The programme faces running over far budget with knock-on effects to other areas of the budget, multiple emerging technological threats such as cyber weapons, and political risks including Scottish devolution. Each of these factors underlines the need for reasoned, respectful and open-minded debate on the future of the UK’s possession of nuclear weapons, and a willingness to explore alternative pathways to maintain British national security.
Programme Reports
BASIC is developing new approaches to overcome states’ dependency on the doctrine of nuclear deterrence, which blocks global nuclear disarmament and drives proliferation. We engage diverse perspectives, encourage empathy across states, and broaden the context of debate. We have an established reputation for non-partisan, non-judgmental, cross-cultural engagement and for seeking common ground.
Our current programmes are listed below. To see our completed programmes, visit our archive.
Report: Risk Reduction and De-Escalation
In June 2022, BASIC held a roundtable with Russian experts to discuss risk reduction and crisis de-escalation in general terms. In this roundtable report, Dr Gry Thomasen outlines these findings and presents a set of policy recommendations.
Report: Different Perceptions, Shared Understandings: Towards a Responsibility-Based Regime to Reduce Nuclear Risks in the Asia-Pacific
This report encapsulates the salient themes of discussion of the dialogue on Nuclear Responsibilities held in Dubai in March 2022.
Report: Exploring the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Responsibilities
In this report, Chiara Cervasio discusses the findings of the roundtable held by BASIC in London in October 2021, on the United Kingdom’s Nuclear Responsibilities.
Report: Applying a Systematic Approach to NATO-Russia Risk Reduction: NATO’s North-Eastern Flank Reacts to the War in Ukraine
‘Applying a Systematic Approach to NATO-Russia Risk Reduction: NATO’s North-Eastern Flank Reacts to the War in Ukraine’ is the third in a series of four reports that address the current threat assessments and perceptions of nuclear and conventional escalation risks in Eastern Europe and Russia.
Report: The Case for a Proliferation-Resistant Medical Isotope Reactor: Enhancing Nuclear Medicine Globally While Minimising Proliferation Risk
Eva-Nour Repussard and Chris Spedding discuss the finding of a roundtable on the Case for a Proliferation-Resistant Medical Isotope Reactor, convened by BASIC and The Open University.
Report: Applying a Systematic Approach to NATO-Russia Risk Reduction: Perspectives from the North-Eastern Flank
Applying a Systematic Approach to NATO-Russia Risk Reduction: Perspectives from the North-Eastern Flank addresses the current threat assessments and perceptions of nuclear and conventional escalation risks in Eastern Europe and Russia.