• Competences corresponding the final attainment level of secondary school

• English

• English

At the end of the course, the students are expected:

- to have acquired an elaborated insight in the major discussions with respect to arms control and proliferation
- to be able to form a well-argued point of view in these discussions
- to be able to handle the literature by writing an individuel paper and by a corresponding oral presentation, as well as by active participation in the seminars

Different theme's will be touched upon, one or two per class, like:
- what are the specific characteristics of weapons of mass destruction ? is their use ethically different from conventional weapons ?
- what are the conditions for nuclear deterrence to work (in theory) ? does nuclear deterrence work in practice ? case-study: Cuban missile crisis
- what are the differences in nuclear weapons policies (amongst nuclear weapon states) with respect to force structure, declaratory, and operational policy ?
- is proliferation a threat to international peace and security ?
- which non-proliferation and counterproliferation measures do exist ? How effective is the current nuclear non-proliferation regime, including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) ?
- How real is the threat of nuclear terrorism ?
- case-studies: proliferation in the Middle East (Israel, Iran,...), India-Pakistan, East Asia (N Korea)
- is missile defense helpful for nuclear disarmament ? How realistic is missile defense cooperation between the West and Russia ?
- is a nuclear weapons free world desirable ? If so, feasible ?
- what is the link between nuclear weapons and nuclear energy ?

1) Reader (with articles), which should be read BEFORE the class starts.

2) book (150 p): Tom Sauer, Eliminating Nuclear Weapons. The Role of Missile Defense (Hurst & Co/Columbia University Press, 2011). Sold in the first class.

M273.

Tel: 03/265.55.99

E-mail: tom.sauer@ua.ac.be