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.”
4 Projects
Geopolitics of Energy Project
The Geopolitics of Energy Project explores the intersection of energy, security, and international politics. The project, launched in 2011, aims to improve our understanding of how energy demand and supply shape international politics – and vice versa. It also endeavors to inform policymakers and students about major challenges to global energy security and, where possible, to propose new ways of thinking about and addressing these issues. The project focuses both on conventional and alternative energies, as both will influence and be influenced by geopolitical realities.
Managing the Atom
The Project on Managing the Atom (MTA) conducts and disseminates policy-relevant research on nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, and nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. The project supports an international group of pre- and post-doctoral fellows and other experts working on these issues and helps to advance their research work through seminars, workshops, and conferences.
Middle East Initiative
The Middle East Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School is dedicated to advancing public policy in the Middle East by convening the world's foremost academics and policy experts, developing the next generation of leaders, and promoting community engagement on campus and in the region.
US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism
The US-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism aims to encourage U.S.-Russian cooperation to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and stop acts of nuclear terrorism. Building on existing efforts to understand and prevent nuclear terrorism, this initiative seeks a joint US-Russian assessment of the threat of nuclear terrorism to develop concepts, strategy, and actions to prevent a successful nuclear attack by terrorists.