Civil Society and Nuclear Risk Reduction

The interview with Yerdaulet Rakhmatulla explores his journey into nuclear disarmament and advocacy, beginning with a chance involvement in the field during 2021. He discusses the importance of nuclear justice, particularly for Kazakhstan, a nation historically affected by nuclear testing, and emphasizes youth involvement and regional collaboration. Yerdaulet critiques global civil society and organizations like ICAN for Western dominance, advocating for a more inclusive and localized approach. He remains optimistic about the future of Kazakh civil society in addressing nuclear issues but expresses concern about global disarmament challenges and evolving threats such as AI weaponization.

This document summary was generated by an artificial intelligence language model and was reviewed by a Wilson Center staff member.

Alimzhan Akhmetov, a former Kazakh diplomat, became interested in nuclear disarmament issues when he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' department for international security issues in 2015. Akhmetov believes nuclear weapons are a destabilizing factor due to the high risks and resources spent on them, and he was disappointed that non-nuclear weapon states agreed too easily to the indefinite extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1995. Akhmetov's NGO, the Center for International Security and Policy (CISP), works on nuclear disarmament issues, brings nuclear test survivors to international forums, and collaborates with organizations like ICAN and Soka Gakkai International. Akhmetov expects nuclear weapons to be replaced by other advanced weapons like autonomous systems in the next 50 years, leading to a more secure but unequal world, with proxy wars continuing.

This document summary was generated by an artificial intelligence language model and was reviewed by a Wilson Center staff member.

In this interview, Patricia Lewis shares insights from her extensive career in nuclear policy and disarmament, highlighting her transition from nuclear physics to think tank and research work. She explains the risks nuclear weapons pose, not only as physical entities but also as symbols of power that disrupt global politics. Lewis advocates for a focus on risk reduction over immediate disarmament, emphasizing that reducing the chance of nuclear weapon use is the most urgent priority. She discusses the need for broader public awareness and cooperation among governments, think tanks, and civil society to address nuclear issues through a humanitarian lens.

This document summary was generated by an artificial intelligence language model and was reviewed by a Wilson Center staff member.

In this interview, Joseph Cirincione discusses his career trajectory and involvement in nuclear disarmament, focusing on his work with the Ploughshares Fund to influence U.S. nuclear policy. He highlights the importance of networking and funding coordination among disarmament groups to achieve policy milestones, such as the New START treaty and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Cirincione explains the current challenges facing the disarmament movement, including the resurgence of nuclear arms races fueled by Russia and China and the limited resources and unity within U.S. civil society on this issue. He also expresses concern about the long-term future of nuclear disarmament, indicating that substantial organizational restructuring is needed to sustain momentum.

This document summary was generated by an artificial intelligence language model and was reviewed by a Wilson Center staff member.

In this interview, Oliver Meier discusses his career and views on nuclear policy, sharing how his experience spans both peace research and security policy. He emphasizes the enduring power dynamics created by nuclear weapons, which he believes destabilize global politics by increasing divisions and complicating cooperation. Meier advocates for civil society to pressure for nuclear abolition while also pursuing practical risk-reduction steps, given the challenges of immediate disarmament. Looking ahead, he expresses hope for a future where international relations can be organized without nuclear deterrence, although he acknowledges this shift will require significant political, rather than technical, change.

This document summary was generated by an artificial intelligence language model and was reviewed by a Wilson Center staff member.