Nuclear Issues

The risks posed by the proliferation of cyber weapons are gaining wide recognition among security planners. Yet the general reaction of scholars of international relations has been to neglect the cyber peril owing to its technical novelties and intricacies. This attitude amounts to either one or both of two claims: the problem is not of sufficient scale to warrant close inspection, or it is not comprehensible to a non-technical observer. This seminar challenged both assertions.

"Cyber war, though only incipient at this stage, is the most dramatic of the potential threats. Major states with elaborate technical and human resources could, in principle, create massive disruption and physical destruction through cyber attacks on military and civilian targets. Responses to cyber war include a form of interstate deterrence through denial and entanglement, offensive capabilities, and designs for rapid network and infrastructure recovery if deterrence fails. At some point, it may be possible to reinforce these steps with certain rudimentary norms and arms control, but the world is at an early stage in this process."

The Belfer Center’s Project on Managing the Atom convened a workshop in April to discuss measures for strengthening restraints on the transfer of enrichment and recycling technologies, with a particular focus on the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).  The workshop was held in Washington DC and hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

"It is increasingly clear Britain's knowledge sectors are our best hope for regaining a world-leading industry. But the government must support that effort towards building a knowledge economy faster and more effectively. That means putting greater investment into our communications infrastructure and universities, which suffer from under-investment compared to their US competitors. It also means offering the right incentive structures."

Article in The Nonproliferation Review

"The financial services sector has been amazingly resilient after the devastation of large-scale terrorist attacks."

Despite this extensive activity in the energy sphere, it seems, however, that Ankara's energy policy has been undertaken without a strategic plan and with little integration of energy issues into Turkey's overall foreign and security policies.

Research and development activities, known as the "technology base" program, are a vital part of the United States defense program and must be adequately funded.