
Talking Trident Event Series
In partnership with WMD Awareness, BASIC set up the Talking Trident events series between 2014-2015 in order to encourage a wider public discussion about Trident and prospects for Trident renewal amongst Britain’s young people, encouraging more interaction in this critical issue

Strategic Dialogues
Between 2012-2013, BASIC delivered a series of “Strategic Dialogues” in Washington DC, aimed at facilitating the exchange of different perspectives on nuclear weapons issues and deterrence theories. Experts share their views in “dialogue” rather than traditional “debate” format, with the aim of exploring commonalities rather than emphasizing differences.
Shadow NATO Summits
BASIC and partners organized a series of conferences, or shadow summits, with civil society actors to take place in parallel to the NATO Summits in 2009, 2010, and 2012..

Working towards a WMD Free Zone in the Middle East
Between 2011-2019, BASIC worked with partners in the Middle East on developing constructive dialogues to further non-proliferation and disarmament in the Middle East and build prospects for a WMD-Free Zone. Below you will find a comprehensive list of our events and publications during this period.

Trident Commission
From 2011-2014 BASIC coordinated an independent, cross-party commission to examine the United Kingdom’s nuclear weapons policy and the issue of Trident renewal. It’s final report and background papers were published on 1 July 2014:

Rethinking Nuclear Weapons
One of the most important and unremarked trends in nuclear weapons thinking is the constant change in the perceived capabilities and value of nuclear weapons. Hailed as miracle weapons in 1945, able to “assure success in negotiations,” prevent attacks, and guarantee great power status, the record of nuclear weapons has been one of continual disappointment.

Iran’s Nuclear Programme
BASIC has been tracking and commenting upon the issues related to Iran’s nuclear program since 2003. Concerned at the consequences for proliferation stemming from Iran’s lack of full disclosure on past activities, the IAEA Board of Governors and the UN Security Council have been attempting to prevent Iran from developing a full fuel cycle, but Iranian authorities have resisted.

Joint Project: Reducing the Role of Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Europe
Between 2010-2014, BASIC ran a series of joint projects on reducing the role of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe, supported by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Active 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. View the Programmes page by clicking here.