Recent deadly military incidents and an ongoing border conflict between China and India has led…
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:
Congratulating BASIC Policy Intern, Fabian Hoffmann
Fabian is moving on to a part-time role as Research Assistant with the IISS office in Berlin, where he is going to support the Defense and Military Analysis Programme.
BASIC Policy Intern, Fabian Hoffmann, Publishes New Report on Cruise Missile Control in the Next National Security Strategy
BASIC Policy Intern, Fabian Hoffmann, has published an article with The Strategy Bridge on US…
Event recording: Nuclear Responsibilities report co-authors in conversation with Dr Rabia Akhtar, CSSPR Conversations
Following the BASIC-ICCS launch of ‘Nuclear Responsibilities: A New Approach for Thinking and Talking about…
Hubris, Hypocrisy or Hedge?
The Integrated Review
In just 76 words highlighted below across three statements in the nuclear deterrent section of the 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy (IR), the UK government reversed its policy of gradual reduction of the variety, number and salience of its nuclear weapons in place through successive governments since the end of the Cold War.
Biden and No First Use: an Opportunity for the Taking
President Obama considered it, and as Vice-President, Biden advocated for it. Will the Biden Administration now commit to a No First Use policy?
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.
BASIC Policy Intern, Fabian Hoffmann, Publishes New Report on Cruise Missile Control in the Next National Security Strategy
BASIC Policy Intern, Fabian Hoffmann, has published an article with The Strategy Bridge on US…
BASIC Policy Intern, Fabian Hoffmann, Publishes New Report on Cruise Missile Proliferation
One of BASIC’s talented Policy Interns, Fabian Hoffmann, has published a report with the European…
Gender, Think-Tanks and International Affairs: a Toolkit
The Gender, Think-Tanks and International Affairs Toolkit has been jointly developed and published by BASIC,…
Report: Nuclear Responsibilities – A New Approach for Thinking and Talking about Nuclear Weapons
We seek in this report to suggest ways, and crucially propose a new method, to gradually shift the nature of the contemporary global conversation on nuclear weapons away from one characterised by rights, blame, and suspicion towards one framed by responsibility, empathic cooperation, and even trust.
Report: Strategic Risk Reduction in the European Context
States have employed risk reduction strategies in order to manage some of the unintended consequences…
Report: Exploring the Nuclear Responsibilities Framing in India
On 22nd November 2019, BASIC organised a half-day scoping workshop in New Delhi at the…