Tag Archives: MIIS News & Events

Machiavelli in the Ivory Tower Ep 6: The Proliferation Implications of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine

In this episode of Machiavelli in the Ivory Tower, hosts Sarah and Hanna speak with Nicholas Miller, associate professor in the Department of Government at Dartmouth College. Their conversation focuses on the proliferation implications of Russia’s war against Ukraine one year on. With Professor Miller, they examine the evolving discourse around proliferation cascades over time and assess whether concerns about the emergence of such a cascade following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have been exaggerated. In so doing, they discuss insights Professor Miller has derived from his work relating to the factors that drive or inhibit proliferation, the degree to which some appear to matter more than others, and the relationship between arms control and nonproliferation regimes. Toward the end of their discussion, they touch upon the concept of “nuclear learning” and speculate about the kinds of lessons policymakers globally might draw from the current crisis. At the conclusion of the conversation, Professor Miller offers his view on the interactions between the scholarly and policy communities, what they can gain from interacting with one another, and techniques and approaches to make these interactions more productive.

Discussion topics:

  • Implications of the war in Ukraine for nonproliferation
  • Should we be concerned about further proliferation in the Middle East?
  • Is the discourse around proliferation “cascades” different now than in the past?
  • Factors that slow proliferation
  • The link between arms control and proliferation
  • Could the demise of arms control empower advocates for nuclear weapons?
  • Concerns about Russia enabling nuclear proliferation
  • Lessons learned
  • Recommendations for bridging the gap between scholars and policymakers

The episode is also available on Spotify:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-06-one-year-on-the-proliferation-implications/id1607559445?i=1000600717078

Machiavelli in the Ivory Tower Episode 5: North Korea’s Nuclear Hinge Points

In this episode of Machiavelli in the Ivory Tower, hosts Sarah and Hanna speak with Dr. Siegfried Hecker, former director of Los Alamos National Laboratory and current Distinguished Professor of Practice at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS). Their conversation centers on Dr. Hecker’s forthcoming book, Hinge Points: An Inside Look at North Korea’s Nuclear Program (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2023). Dr. Hecker offers insights into the DPRK’s dual-track strategy of diplomacy and nuclear development and highlights missed opportunities when Washington might have been able to channel Pyongyang toward the elimination of nuclear weapons and did not. He shares insights gleaned from his many visits to North Korea and reflects on both the future of US policy toward the DPRK and the importance of facilitating engagement between scientists and diplomats.

Topics discussed include:

  • The DPRK’s dual-track strategy of diplomacy and nuclear development
  • Hinge points: missed opportunities in US policy towards the DPRK
  • Reflecting on the most consequential hinge points
  • Reasons for US policy failures
  • In-person engagement with proliferation-averse actors
  • Why a singular focus on DPRK denuclearization has been problematic
  • What next for US policy on the DPRK?
  • What scientific and policy communities can learn from each other

Episode 5 is also available on Spotify

Machiavelli in the Ivory Tower Ep 4: Nuclear Deterrence and the War in Ukraine – A Conversation with Jeffrey Lewis

In the 4th episode of Machiavelli in the Ivory Tower, hosts Sarah and Hanna are joined by Jeffrey Lewis, Professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and Director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS). Jeffrey is also the founder of Arms Control Wonk, the leading blog and podcast on arms control, disarmament, and nonproliferation.

Today’s discussion topics include:

  • the implications of Russia’s war against Ukraine and China’s growing nuclear arsenal on the concept of nuclear deterrence;
  • the ways forward in dealing with Iran’s nuclear program;
  • the challenges to arms control posed by disinformation;
  • the reasons why individuals matter in all of this

And much more.

The podcast is also available on Spotify:

Machiavelli in the Ivory Tower

Machiavelli in the Ivory Tower series
Sarah Bidgood, Prof. Scott Sagan, Dr. Mariana Budjeryn, Dr. Kristin ven Bruusgaard, and Hanna Notte

Machiavelli in the Ivory Tower is a new podcast series on arms control, nonproliferation, and international security issues. In each episode, hosts Sarah Bidgood and Hanna Notte discuss cutting-edge research and what it means for the most pressing challenges facing policymakers today. In conversation with expert guests, Sarah and Hanna break down these complex topics in ways that bridge the divide between scholarship and the real world. Join them each month as they bring Machiavelli into the Ivory Tower!

The third episode of the series, published on April 25, 2022, deals with nuclear escalation and the war in Ukraine. Sarah and Hanna invite Dr. Kristin ven Bruusgaard, a Postdoctoral Fellow and Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Oslo, to discuss the implications of Russian nuclear strategy and the modernization of its conventional forces for the ongoing war in Ukraine. Will the Russian government likely decide to resort to nuclear weapons? Tune in to find out.

Machiavelli in the Ivory Tower Ep 3: Nuclear Escalation and the War in Ukraine. A Conversation with Dr. Kristin ven Bruusgaard

In the second episode, Sarah and Hanna speak with Dr. Mariana Budjeryn, a research associate with the Project on Managing the Atom at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center. Dr. Budjeryn discusses her new book, Inheriting the Bomb: The Collapse of the USSR and the Nuclear Disarmament of Ukraine. In their conversation, the hosts and guest draw connections between Dr. Budjeryn’s findings and the war in Ukraine, focusing in particular on the implications of Russia’s unprovoked invasion for nonproliferation and arms control and Russia’s spurious allegations that Ukraine is pursuing a nuclear capability.

Machiavelli in the Ivory Tower Ep 2: Nuclear Weapons and the War in Ukraine: A Conversation with Dr. Mariana Budjeryn

In the first episode, Sarah and Hanna speak with Prof. Scott Sagan, who is the Caroline S.G. Munro Professor of Political Science at Stanford University, about the relationship between nuclear doctrine and the law of armed conflict, related ethical and legal concerns, the implications for US policymakers and military planners, recommendations for the upcoming Nuclear Posture Review, and more generally the dangers inherent in “siloing” legal and strategic studies.

Machiavelli in the Ivory Tower Ep 1: A Conversation with Professor Scott Sagan

Machiavelli in the Ivory Tower is also available on:

Spotify: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/machiavelli-in-the-ivory-tower/id1607559445

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/machiavelli-in-the-ivory-tower/id1607559445

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy83ZmUwOTM0OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw

SAT First Friday Staff Meet-Ups 12pm

Faculty and staff are invited to Staff Meet-ups every first Friday from 12-1:15pm PT April, May, and June 2020.

Participants can join at http://go.miis.edu/staffmeetup.

Events include speakers from departments across campus. This is also an opportunity to share ideas and suggestions.

SAT is now recruiting new members for 2-year terms starting June 2020. Contact anyone on SAT for more information.