The overarching question imparting urgency to this exploration is: Can U.S.-Russian contention in cyberspace cause the two nuclear superpowers to stumble into war? In considering this question we were constantly reminded of recent comments by a prominent U.S. arms control expert: At least as dangerous as the risk of an actual cyberattack, he observed, is cyber operations’ “blurring of the line between peace and war.” Or, as Nye wrote, “in the cyber realm, the difference between a weapon and a non-weapon may come down to a single line of code, or simply the intent of a computer program’s user.”
This seminar identifies the myriad challenges faced by the regime centered on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It considers how institutional actors have responded to some of these issues to date. How does the current situation compare to previous critical junctures in the regime's history? Complementary arrangements may help to address the breadth of NPT issues, but their own features may have ramifications for the regime as a whole.
Please join us! Coffee and tea provided. Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come–first served basis.