A new research resource, compiled by Dr Nick Ritchie, collates sources on the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the Humanitarian Initiative.
Latest Publications
Read our latest publications, from January 2018 onwards.
Vacancy: Policy Fellow
Read more here about the latest opportunity to join the BASIC team. Applications for BASIC Policy Fellow close 27 June 2021.
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).
Congratulating BASIC Policy Intern, Laura Rose Brown
Laura Rose Brown is appointed as BASIC and University of Leeds’ ESRC PhD Researcher on gendering nuclear weapons policy.
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…
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?
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.
Upcoming Event: The Emerging Voices Network Plenary Meeting
BASIC and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) are delighted to announce the upcoming Emerging Voices Network plenary meeting on 31 March, 2021, 15:30-17:30 BST (10:30 – 12:30 EDT).
Our most shared
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.
Phase 2.0 of the Programme on Nuclear Responsibilities
The Programme on Nuclear Responsibilities brings together Nuclear Weapon States and Non-Nuclear Weapon States to foster understanding and dialogue on the responsibilities of states and state leaders around nuclear weapons. Launched in 2016, the Programme is now moving into an exciting second phase – find out more here.
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.
BASIC Annual Report 2017
2017 was a tough year for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Read our latest Annual Report to find out how we worked towards creating a world free of the risk of nuclear weapons over now the course of 2017.
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: Negative Security Assurances: The Test of Commitment to Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament?
Nuclear armed states already offer some limited and conditional guarantees (NSAs) that they will not threaten nuclear attack on other states that do not have nuclear weapons. This report looks at the opportunities there are in building upon these guarantees.
View by year
BASIC is developing new approaches to overcome states’ dependency on the doctrine of nuclear deterrence, which blocks global nuclear disarmament and drives proliferation.
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2017 Publications
Read our publications from last year. Our reports from this period include analysis of the implications of the Trump Administration on US nuclear policy, the risks posed by offensive cyber weapons to UK Trident submarines, and BASIC and UNA-UK’s call for UK leadership on disarmament and arms control at the multilateral level.
BASIC Annual Report 2017
2017 was a tough year for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Read our latest Annual Report to find out how we worked towards creating a world free of the risk of nuclear weapons over now the course of 2017.
Report: Changing Nuclear Weapons Policy in the Trump Era: Implications for Europe
President Trump’s emerging nuclear policy presents ‘extraordinary challenges to strategic stability, arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation within Europe’, and undermines European security. President Trump’s US Nuclear Posture Review is expected in the next two months.
Report: A Small Sacrifice for Security: Why Finland gave up its landmines
Finland joined the Antipersonnel (AP) Landmine Ban Treaty despite an overwhelming belief that their national defence doctrine depended upon the deployment of landmines, and the refusal of their neighbour Russia to participate. This decision appears to go against the core responsibility of government – to do all in its power to defend the territorial integrity of the state. But in fact, it reveals a more holistic sense of security, in which vital interests are seen as wrapped up in the wider interests of a strong and cohesive international community.
Negative Security Assurances (June 2017 Briefing)
In the first of a new series of briefing papers from BASIC Executive Director, Paul Ingram, reviews Negative Security Assurances (NSAs) and their significance in the context of the Ban Treaty talks and beyond.
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.
Report: Meaningful Multilateralism: 30 Nuclear Disarmament Proposals for the Next UK Government
In Meaningful Multilateralism, BASIC and UNA–UK offer 30 multilateral disarmament proposals for the incoming UK Government after the General Election on the 8th June, themed according to three types of leadership the UK has previously shown in disarmament.
Must reads
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.
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?
The Nuclear Weapons Dimensions of the 2021 Integrated Review: A First Look
The Johnson Government has set a decisive course away from the United Kingdom’s three decade-long trend of successive nuclear reductions and increasing transparency.
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.
Strategic Upheaval, Overhyped, or Something in Between? Forecasting the Relative Impacts of Cyber and Space Technologies
This is an extract from an article written by Marina Favaro and published by the…
Opinion: More Continuity Than Change? US Nuclear Weapons Policy Under a Biden or Trump Administration
Whether Americans vote Democrat or Republican on 3 November, there will likely be much continuity in US nuclear weapons policy, despite declarations in campaigning.
Joint Publications
Read some of our staff picks of BASIC’s best current and historic writing below.
Why we write
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.
To view all of our Analysis content, visit the Analysis page by clicking here.