The Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, Nagasaki University (RECNA) held a call for “opinions” applying to the 3rd Essay Contest on “Nuclear Weapons and Our Future”, with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of nuclear weapons issues among the younger generation and fostering human resources who can contribute to the realization of a peaceful international society.
We are pleased to announce that we have selected one Grand Prize winner and one Second Prize winner in each of the U-20 (16 to 20 years old) and U-30 (20 to 30 years old) divisions.
【 Winners： 2 Grand Prize Winners, 2 Second Prize Winners 】
* Age at time of application.
U-20: Grand Prize
Riki Ishiyama（17 years old）
Currently enrolled in Berkshire school in Massachusetts. United States.
Raised in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, until the third year of junior high school, and currently attending high school in the United States. A fourth-generation survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, actively engaged in peace activities.
Currently enrolled in Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University.
Lives in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture.
She started engaging in activities focused on nuclear issues in an inquiry-based learning class at Ritsumeikan Moriyama Senior High School. Through these activities, she developed a desire to address nuclear issues and peace efforts with people from various backgrounds, not limited to Japan. After enrolling at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU), she continues to study various social issues and global business from a multifaceted perspective.
Currently enrolled in Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo.
Majoring in hydrology, with additional interests in energy resources and international cooperation. Also involved in STEAM education as the executive director of the Japan Astronomy Olympiad Committee and as a board member of the Japan Committee of the International Linguistics Olympiad.
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Vol.7, Issue 1 of Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament (J-PAND) is now available online. There are 20 open access articles.
For the issue, see here. This is the second special issue on “Irreversibility in Global Nuclear Politics,” which carries case study articles. Another special feature of the issue is“ Reducing the Risk of Nuclear Weapons Use in Northeast Asia,” one of the RECNA’s recent projects.
Image: In the background, a Urakami Cathedral on a hill in Nagasaki. U.S. National Archives, 1945. 77-AEC-52-4459.
The Political Reckoning in a Post-Nuclear Use Landscape
Rabia Akhtar
July 11, 2024
This report is published under a 4.0 International Creative Commons License the terms of which are found here.
This report is simultaneously published by the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network, Nautilus Institute, and the Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, Nagasaki University (RECNA).
It was first published in the Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament.
Acknowledgements: This article was commissioned by the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network.
Abstract
The international landscape, particularly in Northeast Asia, is portrayed as volatile due to the presence of nuclear-armed states, territorial disputes, and escalating geopolitical tensions. Considering this reality, this paper delves into the political ramifications of potential nuclear use in the Northeast Asia. It scrutinizes conceivable power shifts, the evolving role of anti-nuclear groups, and the broader impact on security policies. The exploration extends to scenarios post-nuclear use, encompassing positive, negative, and complex outcomes. The paper concludes by offering recommendations to policymakers, underscoring the imperative of substantive dialogues on arms control and conflict resolution to avert catastrophic nuclear events. Overall, the paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the multifaceted challenges posed by nuclear weapons in Northeast Asia and offers valuable insights for crafting a more secure global environment. Recent developments point towards a disconcerting unraveling of arms control structures and a growing threat to the nonproliferation regime. The paper underscores the dynamic evolution of nuclear deterrence, highlighting the strategic use of emerging technologies by states to reshape the balance of vulnerabilities.
Keywords: nuclear weapons; Asia-Pacific; North Korea; arms control; deterrence
Authors’ Profile:
Rabia Akhtar is Dean Faculty of Social Sciences at University of Lahore. A Professor of International Relations, she is also the founding Director of the Centre for Security, Strategy and Policy Research and of the School of Integrated Social Sciences at the University of Lahore, Pakistan. Dr. Akhtar has a PhD in Security Studies from Kansas State University. She holds Masters degrees in International Relations from Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, and in Political Science from Eastern Illinois University, USA. Her scholarly pursuits have revolved around key areas such as South Asian nuclear security, deterrence dynamics, media in the age of deep fakes and disinformation, nuclear weapons, AI and emerging technologies, Pakistan’s foreign policy and national security imperatives, as well as regional and international security issues. She has authored a book titled, ‘The Blind Eye: U.S. Non-proliferation Policy Towards Pakistan from Ford to Clinton’, which showcases her expertise in the field. Moreover, she serves as the Editor of Pakistan Politico, Pakistan’s pioneering magazine on strategic and foreign affairs. Not only has Dr. Akhtar made significant contributions to academia, but she has also played a vital role in shaping foreign policy as a member of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs from 2018 to 2022. She is a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the South Asia Center, Atlantic Council, Washington DC, and a Nonresident Fellow at BASIC, UK. Dr. Akhtar serves as a visiting faculty at the NATO Defence College, Rome, the NPIHP Nuclear Bootcamp, Rome and ISODARCO, Andalo, Italy. Dr. Akhtar is a visiting scholar (2024-2025) at the Project on Managing the Atom, Belfer Center, Harvard Kennedy School.
Image: President Joe Biden hosts a bilateral meeting with President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at the Filoli Estate in Woodside, California. Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz/Wikimedia Commons
No First Use Can Still Help to Reduce US-China Nuclear Risks
Adam Mount
July 2, 2024
This report is published under a 4.0 International Creative Commons License the terms of which are found here.
This report is simultaneously published by the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network, Nautilus Institute, and the Research Center for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, Nagasaki University (RECNA).
It was first published in the Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament.
Acknowledgements: This article was commissioned by the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network.
Abstract
No first use declaratory statements are unlikely to significantly affect US-China nuclear crises. China’s nuclear buildup raises serious questions about the meaning and durability of its longstanding declaratory policy, while the United States is unlikely to issue a similar statement. However, no first use can still play an important role in reducing risks between the two countries. First, both countries can take practical planning and posture measures to reduce their reliance on nuclear first use. Second, a bilateral discussion on no first use could lead to a valuable dialogue on the role of nuclear weapons in each country. It may be more consequential to do and discuss no first use than it is to say it.
Keywords: nuclear; no first use; China
Authors’ Profile:
Adam Mount, Ph.D. is a Senior Fellow at the Federation of American Scientists, where his work covers U.S. nuclear strategy, conventional deterrence, and progressive foreign policy. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from the Department of Government at Georgetown and a B.A. from Reed College.
