Mubashar Rizvi reflects on the Nuclear Responsibilities Approach through an exploration of two domestic legislative instruments through which Pakistan derives some of its nuclear responsibilities.
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.
Recent Analysis
Read the latest analysis from BASIC staff and consultants:
Nuclear Responsibilities and Pakistan: Understanding Sensibilities for Future Engagement
Ali Mustafa discusses how the Nuclear Responsibilities framework is a welcome addition to the nuclear discourse in Pakistan – however, meaningful future engagement on responsibilities requires understanding Pakistani sensibilities.
The Responsibility of Making the Global Nuclear Order More Secure: Thinking Beyond Conventional Risk Reduction
In this piece, Muhammad Shareh Qazi discusses how Nuclear Responsibilities can help strengthening global nuclear risk reduction.
BASIC-ICCS Responsibility Framework: An Innovative Tool for Understanding a Complex Subject
Shaza Arif discusses how BASIC-ICCS Responsibilities Framework opens a new way to consider nuclear responsibilities, and is a relevant contribution to the literature in broadening the debate about nuclear responsibilities or any related subject (ie, cyber, AI) that needs in-depth discussion, collaboration and even conflict management.
Communicating Nuclear Responsibilities Through Leadership
Syed Ali Zia Jaffery, Deputy Director at CSSPR, writes on how leaders of nuclear states can better communicate nuclear responsibilities and their fulfilment to multiple audiences across the globe.
Women and Power in the Nuclear Field
On March 1st, 2023, BASIC-ICCS hosted a Nuclear Responsibilities dialogue in Hanoi. The dialogue had substantive and meaningful outcomes, due in no small part to our diverse participant list, which included a large number of women (proportionally, more women than men)
All Analysis
Developing Nuclear Responsibilities from a Legal Perspective: The Experience of Pakistan
Mubashar Rizvi reflects on the Nuclear Responsibilities Approach through an exploration of two domestic legislative instruments through which Pakistan derives some of its nuclear responsibilities.
Nuclear Responsibilities and Pakistan: Understanding Sensibilities for Future Engagement
Ali Mustafa discusses how the Nuclear Responsibilities framework is a welcome addition to the nuclear discourse in Pakistan – however, meaningful future engagement on responsibilities requires understanding Pakistani sensibilities.
The Responsibility of Making the Global Nuclear Order More Secure: Thinking Beyond Conventional Risk Reduction
In this piece, Muhammad Shareh Qazi discusses how Nuclear Responsibilities can help strengthening global nuclear risk reduction.
BASIC-ICCS Responsibility Framework: An Innovative Tool for Understanding a Complex Subject
Shaza Arif discusses how BASIC-ICCS Responsibilities Framework opens a new way to consider nuclear responsibilities, and is a relevant contribution to the literature in broadening the debate about nuclear responsibilities or any related subject (ie, cyber, AI) that needs in-depth discussion, collaboration and even conflict management.
Communicating Nuclear Responsibilities Through Leadership
Syed Ali Zia Jaffery, Deputy Director at CSSPR, writes on how leaders of nuclear states can better communicate nuclear responsibilities and their fulfilment to multiple audiences across the globe.
Women and Power in the Nuclear Field
On March 1st, 2023, BASIC-ICCS hosted a Nuclear Responsibilities dialogue in Hanoi. The dialogue had substantive and meaningful outcomes, due in no small part to our diverse participant list, which included a large number of women (proportionally, more women than men)
Nuclear Responsibilities at Sea: Early-Career Perspectives for Maritime Risk Reduction in the Asia Pacific
On 25th October 2022, BASIC and ICCS hosted ‘Nuclear Responsibilities at Sea,’ an online roundtable with young professionals and experts to explore policy recommendations for maritime risk reduction in the Asia Pacific.
Extra-Long Trident Patrols: Heightened Risks for Crew Wellbeing and Nuclear Safety?
Trident patrols are now regularly five months long, up from just two months during the Cold War. What might the implications be for those serving aboard?
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.
The Future Just Ain’t What it Used to Be: Emerging Trends and their Impact On the Future of Nuclear Weapons Policy and International Security
Putin’s apparent willingness to introduce nuclear weapons in a non-nuclear war is a watershed moment with implications beyond Europe and the West. In this article, Rishi Paul looks to Russia’s recent behaviour as a lens to understand what the future might hold in store, and draw out the potential implications for international security.
Dumping “Disposable” Reactors in the Sea Should be a Non-Starter
Chris Spedding argues that developing and testing autonomous nuclear-propulsion reactors for aerial or subsea munitions will lead to a real risk of radiological exposure and contamination, with lethal consequences.
Nuclear Responsibilities in a Deterrence Driven World
In the fourth of our series on the nuclear responsibilities approach in the Asia-Pacific, Kanica Rakhra explores what makes states act responsibly in nuclear crises and how this has to be balanced against the need to ensure credible deterrence.
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UK Nuclear Weapons Policy and Trident
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.
Bombs, Brexit Boys and Bairns: A Feminist Critique of Nuclear (In)security in the Integrated Review
Clare Duncanson and Catherine Eschle provide a feminist critique of the UK’s Integrated Review.
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.
Stepping Back into the Dark Ages: Making Sense of the UK Decision to Expand its Nuclear Arsenal
British diplomats now will be in the dog house, and have a tough time ahead of them.
Report: How much does the UK spend on nuclear weapons?
This report draws upon a mixture of publicly available data and estimates in order to outline both the current operating costs of the Trident nuclear weapon system, as well as the estimated costs of the current plans to renew the UK’s nuclear arsenal.
Report: (Dis)Continuous Deterrence: Challenges to Britain’s Nuclear Doctrine
Despite strong rhetorical support on part of the government for Continuous At-Sea Deterrence (CASD), a real risk exists that CASD could be interrupted in the early 2030s.
Report: Blowing up the Budget: The Cost Risk of Trident to UK Defence
BASIC’s new report illustrates in clear detail the cost risk of Trident renewal to the UK’s Defence budget; Dreadnought’s through life costs are likely to be between £110-114bn.
Report: Hacking UK Trident: A Growing Threat
This paper reviews the growing potential for cyber-attack on the UK’s operational fleet of Vanguard-class submarines armed with nuclear-tipped Trident II D-5 ballistic missiles, and some of the implications for strategic stability.
UK revokes ICJ jurisdiction over its nuclear weapons
The UK Government has inhibited the International Court of Justice (ICJ) from ruling on cases about nuclear weapons or nuclear disarmament, including if it uses Trident against another country.
Current Programmes
BASIC believes in making progress on nuclear disarmament, arms control, and non-proliferation through multiple complementary approaches. We continuously develop our programmes – streams of research – through sustained engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, collectively searching for the art of the possible.
Our current programmes are listed below. Browse our current programmes page by clicking here.
Archive Programmes
BASIC believes in making progress on nuclear disarmament, arms control, and non-proliferation through multiple complementary approaches. We continuously develop our programmes – streams of research – through sustained engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, collectively searching for the art of the possible.
Our archive programmes are listed below. Browse our archive programmes page by clicking here.
