Conceptions of Responsibility Among the Nuclear Weapon Possessors

This projects asks what counts as responsible state conduct in relation to the possession of nuclear weapons. The rationale for this focus is the growing disjuncture in the contemporary global nuclear order between the nuclear possessor states on the one hand and the vast majority of non-nuclear states on the other.

The above research questions will be addressed using qualitative document analysis and semi-structured interviews. With regard to the former, the project will code manually using NVivo for each case the key primary source documents in English (e.g. UN documents, speeches, and official statements in NPT and other fora) to excavate understandings of nuclear responsibility and restraint. In addition, the background assumptions and beliefs of key officials and decision-makers will be probed using semi-structured interviews that are aimed at elucidating the nuclear practices of the three states that form the empirical part of the project. It is envisaged that the project will involve 20 to 30 interviews conducted in English and will involve telephone/skype as well as face-to-face. Access will be facilitated through the networks of the supervisors and the collaborating organization.