On 14-15 June, Open Nuclear Network (ONN) participated in the second Alva Myrdal Centre for Nuclear Disarmament (AMC) cross-disciplinary conference under the theme ''Nuclear Disarmament at a Crossroads'' in Uppsala, Sweden.
On 14-15 June, Open Nuclear Network (ONN) participated in the second Alva Myrdal Centre for Nuclear Disarmament (AMC) cross-disciplinary conference under the theme ''Nuclear Disarmament at a Crossroads'' in Uppsala, Sweden.
The AMC conference is intended as a space to share and discuss research and ideas on nuclear disarmament, and aims to combine insights from the social sciences, natural sciences and other disciplines, as well as from practical experience. The panel discussions and presentations integrated knowledge from diverse fields such as peace and conflict research, applied nuclear physics, international law, and more.
Left to right: 1) Kristiana Nitisa presenting at the panel discussion "Fake news:Disinformation and setting the record straight"; 2) Valeriia Hesse presenting at the panel discussion "Nuclear disarmament in Central and Eastern Europe''; 3) Kseniia Pirnavskaia presenting at the panel discussion "Nuclear disarmament in Central and Eastern Europe''; 4) Elin Bergner presenting at the panel discussion "Lurking in the shadows: Emerging risks of nuclear escalation''.
ONN Engagement and Research Assistant Kristiana Nitisa presented her research ''Nuclear becoming unclear: Avoiding disinformation by using inclusive information communication and presentation'' on how to communicate the complexities of nuclear risk reduction to non-expert audiences in the panel "Fake news: Disinformation and setting the record straight".
Abstract: Many experts believe the risk of nuclear war today is the highest it has been in decades. Nevertheless, the general public lacks sufficient understanding of nuclear risks, ultimately contributing to poor public policy and heightened nuclear risk. As the volume, velocity, and variety of information around the world expand, and as traditional information gatekeepers have often been replaced by unreliable news sources and social media, the communication flow between the nuclear science and policy communities and the public has broken down. The result is a growing gap between information communication formats that would effectively explain complex information to the public and the current methods of communicating nuclear risks using dense and lengthy technical language and presentations. Nefarious actors can take advantage of the challenged information environment by spreading disinformation. To empower the general public to engage with these highly technical issues, nuclear science and policy, and communities must start employing appropriate communication tools and strategies that can break through the confusion and disinformation. This paper will seek to provide an assessment of the present lack of approachable information communication strategies and will then offer recommendations on how to communicate complex nuclear-related technical issues to the broader public more effectively.
ONN Research Consultant Valeriia Hesse presented her research on "Winning the Game of Chicken With Memes: Ukrainian Reactions to Russian Threats", discussing an unexpected influence of humor on coercion dynamics in the panel discussion "Nuclear disarmament in Central and Eastern Europe''.
Abstract: Bearing in mind the role Russia’s nuclear threats played in its war against Ukraine, it is crucial to analyse the views of various Ukrainian audiences as the party directly affected. This war in general has demonstrated how the public’s stance, support, and consequent resource mobilization can influence not only the military’s morale but also the government’s resolve. Thus, this analysis focuses on traditional and new media reactions to Russia’s nuclear threats as they appeared with a particular focus on the general public's comments, as these voices are rarely heard. The methodology includes analysing reactions in traditional and social media to nuclear threats of different nature and levels of ambiguity signalled. Russia’s attempts to coerce Ukraine by shielding conventional aggression with hybrid nuclear threats fell through. While it is true that nuclear deterrence worked against NATO’s direct involvement and has been limiting what weapons systems Ukraine could get, hybrid nuclear brinkmanship failed to intimidate the Ukrainian public and persuade the Ukrainian leadership to give in. The general mood is to continue fighting since it is an existential war for Ukraine as a state, as a democracy, and as a culture.
ONN Research Consultant Kseniia Pirnavskaia in the panel "Nuclear disarmament in Central and Eastern Europe'' presented her work on exploring the impact of peaceful nuclear explosions on potential pro-disarmament shift in Russia.
Abstract: The paper explores how peaceful nuclear explosionsт(PNEs) have impacted local communities' attitudes toward nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament. This article is focused on the PNEs conducted in the Soviet Union from 1965-1988 in the territory of modern Russia. They are defined within the scope of this research as a nuclear threat to the people residing in the districts where former sites of peaceful nuclear explosions are located. She uses a national polling organisation’s data to determine the degree of fear average Russians feel towards nuclear weapons, as well as their views on nuclear disarmament. Kseniia considers whether or not proximity to where nuclear weapons were tested/used in some Russian regions may relate to peoples’ views on nuclear weapons. The findings demonstrate that there are marginal differences between the districts where the most and least number of PNEs were conducted. To reinforce these differences, raising awareness at the regional level on regional nuclear contexts is essential.
ONN Research Assistant Elin Bergner presented a paper on non-traditional security risk impact on nuclear risks with an example from the South Asian conflict. In the pane discussion "Lurking in the shadows: Emerging risks of nuclear escalation'' she explained the linkage between non-traditional security threats and nuclear risk through the mechanism of conflict.
Abstract: International security is confronted by a growing set of interrelated and mutually reinforcing cross-border challenges that cut across the domains of society, economy and the environment. Yet little attention has been paid to the compounding effects that these risks – such as, food, water, health and energy insecurity, and economic underdevelopment – have on increasing the risk of the use of nuclear weapons. As these non-traditional security risks are projected to increase in scope and expand geographically, especially as a result of climate change, it is vital for the nuclear scientific and policy communities to recognize and analyze the potential pathways from these risks to conflict escalation that could bring about nuclear weapons use. Ultimately, these conflating factors will challenge the operational resilience of existing nuclear risk prevention and de-escalation strategies. Focusing on contemporary conflicts in which the risk of nuclear weapon use has been identified as being particularly high, this paper will seek to identify and clarify the linkages between the non-traditional security risks presented above and risk of nuclear weapon use. The aim is to offer an overview of this underdeveloped area of study to a broader interdisciplinary audience and stimulate a discussion on future necessary adaptations in nuclear risk reduction approaches.
Please contact the authors individually to request access to the AMC conference papers.
ONN looks forward to the future events organised by AMC and commends the organisers for a successful and insightful conference.