Research, ideas, and leadership for a more secure, peaceful world

Past Event
Seminar

Taking the Initiative: A Practical Mechanism to Prevent WMD Proliferation

Open to the Public

In response to growing concern over weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation, the Bush administration launched the controversial Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) in 2003 with 11 core states. Now, five years later, the PSI boasts participation from over 80 states.

This presentation will explore the evolution of the PSI, its structure, reasons for states' participation or nonparticipation, and arguments for and against it becoming more formally tied to other instruments of the nonproliferation regime.

Please join us! Coffee and tea provided. Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come–first served basis.

Date: Time: - Location: Littauer Building - Belfer Center Library, Room 369
Japanese Coast Guards detain members of the crew of a U.S. military supply ship after boarding the ship by helicopter during "Exercise Pacific Protector"--one-day maneuvers aimed at demonstrating their ability to board ships suspected of smuggling WMD.

About

In response to growing concern over weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation, the Bush administration launched the controversial Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) in 2003 with 11 core states — the United States, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Now, five years later, the PSI boasts participation from over 80 states.

The PSI aims to intercept the flow of WMD, their delivery systems, and related materials to states and non-state actors. However, some critical states remain outside its framework, and it has attracted critics given its informal and loose association — and its creative application of legal principles. This presentation will explore the evolution of the PSI, its structure, reasons for states' participation or nonparticipation, and arguments for and against it becoming more formally tied to other instruments of the nonproliferation regime.

Please join us! Coffee and tea provided. Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come–first served basis.