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.”
Biography
David M. Allison is an Associate of the Project on Managing the Atom at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School. Dave's research draws on experimental and archival methods to examine the foundations of nuclear deterrence and threats to strategic stability. His broader interests include emerging technologies, identifying sources of civilian support for the use of force, and assessments of military capabilities during nuclear, conventional, and unconventional conflicts. He has conducted public opinion and survey research in Iraq, Japan, South Korea, and the United States, and has published in the Journal of Conflict Resolution, International Security, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, The Nonproliferation Review, and The National Interest.
Prior to entering academia, Dave served as an officer in the United States Army, deploying to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Political Science from Yale University and a B.A. with highest honors in Political Science from Columbia University.
Last Updated: Sep 18, 2023, 11:26pm