Programme on Nuclear Responsibilities
How do we build a more responsible global nuclear order?
The Nuclear Responsibilities Approach is a way of reframing how we think, talk, and write about nuclear weapons: one that puts a meaningful exploration of responsibility at the centre of our mindsets, our dialogues and our publications. In doing so, the Approach aims to provide an alternative vocabulary and model for exchange that can stimulate new thinking and research, and stimulate a new kind of dialogue to reduce distrust and nuclear risks.
The Programme on the Nuclear Responsibilities, run jointly by BASIC and the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) at the University of Birmingham, promotes the Approach through a range of activities at the national, regional and international levels.
At the national level, the Nuclear Responsibilities Approach offers new conceptual tools to shape internal debates and deliberations over nuclear weapons policy and planning. We contend that developing robust and ethical policies and practices in relation to nuclear weapons starts with a rigorous, bottom-up assessment of nuclear responsibilities.
At the regional level, the Approach offers a means to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on common security concerns; our flagship regional programme works with local partners to look for opportunities to reduce nuclear risks in Southern Asia.
At the international level, the Approach is offered as a collective guiding principle that can help transcend the chronic blame game at the heart of international nuclear politics that stymies dialogue, cooperation, and trust.
The Programme is a joint project with the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) at the University of Birmingham. We are grateful for the generous support of the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the University of Birmingham, and the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust.
Programme Director: Sebastian Brixey-Williams
Programme Manager (Asia-Pacific Track): Dr Rishi Paul
Academic Lead: Professor Nicholas J. Wheeler (the Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security and Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham)
With thanks to our funders at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the University of Birmingham and the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF).
Analysis and Publications for this Programme
Read our work on the responsibilities of states around nuclear weapons below
The ‘Responsibility Turn’ in Nuclear Diplomacy
The New Atlantic Charter provides the first time that the specific language of ‘responsible state behaviour’ has been used publicly in an official capacity in relation to nuclear weapons.
The Nuclear Responsibilities Toolkit: A Practical Guide for Thinking, Talking and Writing
Publication of the Nuclear Responsibilities Toolkit (2021), a conceptual and practical guide to policy communities who would like to experiment with the Nuclear Responsibilities Approach.
A View from Pakistan – Review of ‘Nuclear Responsibilities: A New Approach for Thinking and Talking About Nuclear Weapons’
Rabia Akhtar reviews the Nuclear Responsibilities Approach from a Pakistani perspective.
Event Recording: BASIC Co-Director Presents at OxPeace 2021
On 15th May, BASIC Co-Director Sebastian Brixey-Williams was invited to speak at the OxPeace 2021 Conference ’Peace in the Nuclear Era: threats, treaties and public understanding.’ View the recording here.
Nuclear Responsibilities: A Chinese Perspective
This piece, by Mr Zhou Chang forms of a number of reflective pieces written by experts to respond to the Nuclear Responsibilities Approach and is co-published between BASIC, the ICCS and the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA).
Engagement without Recognition: A Pathway to China-India Risk Reduction Dialogue?
Recent deadly military incidents and an ongoing border conflict between China and India has led…
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…
Programme on Nuclear Responsibilities Launches Major Report at the UN First Committee 2020
The BASIC-ICCS launch of ‘Nuclear Responsibilities’ hosted a line-up of expert speakers and a Q&A session to discuss the aims and achievements of the Programme.
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.
Event Recording: Nuclear Responsibilities: A New Approach for Thinking and Talking about Nuclear Weapons (2 November 2020)
This is the recording of the launch of BASIC and ICCS’ report Nuclear Responsibilities:…
Report: Exploring the Nuclear Responsibilities Framing in India
On 22nd November 2019, BASIC organised a half-day scoping workshop in New Delhi at the…
Report: Nuclear Responsibilities and the Global Nuclear Order – Perspectives from São Paulo
What are Brazil’s responsibilities in the Global Nuclear Order?
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 current programmes page by clicking here.
