James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies - CNS

Call for Applications: Fall 2026 CNS Visiting Fellows Program
CNS is proud to announce a new call for applications for its internationally recognized Visiting Fellows Program for Fall 2026 — now with expanded opportunities for French and U.S. nationals.

CNS Visiting Fellow program now available to French and U.S. nationals! CNS is proud to announce a new call for applications for its internationally recognized Visiting Fellows Program for Fall 2026.

This Is Not the World Russia Wants
A belligerent America Is foiling Putin’s strategy.

This Is Not the World Russia Wants A belligerent America Is foiling Putin’s strategy.

Mitigating Miscalculation The Role of Pre-Launch Notifications in Strategic Stability
The first comprehensive study that explores the critical role of pre-launch notifications for ballistic missiles and space-launch vehicles in maintaining global strategic stability.

Mitigating Miscalculation The Role of Pre-Launch Notifications in Strategic Stability The first comprehensive study that explores the critical role of pre-launch notifications for ballistic missiles and space-launch vehicles in maintaining global strategic stability.

The 2026 edition of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Briefing Book, published by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), in partnership with the Center for Science and Security Studies (CSSS) at King’s College London, is now available online.

Timed to be available for use at the 11th NPT Review Conference starting in New York on 27 April 2026, the Briefing Book serves as a comprehensive reference guide, featuring a wide selection of documents related to the NPT and its review process. Over the years, the Briefing Book has become a fixture of NPT meetings, designed to be accessible to both seasoned experts and newcomers.

2026 Edition of the NPT Briefing Book Now Available Online The book is widely used by national delegations and members of civil society in preparation for NPT meetings.

AI is changing the landscape of nuclear and biological weapons risks.

That was the focus of a landmark recent conference at Asilomar. The James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies brought together over 100 experts from AI labs, the U.S. national laboratories, foreign ministries, universities, and other independent research organizations and industry.

Over two days, participants explored how AI could affect these high-consequence domains and where stronger governance, clearer research priorities, and more effective implementation are most needed.

A statement of principles and agenda for action is forthcoming from the conference secretariat.

We are grateful to George C. Lee II (Middlebury Class of 1988) for the support that made this event possible.

Flyer/Agenda:https://nonproliferation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/FINAL-CNS-Asilomar-Conference-Program-Apr-8-9-2026.pdf
Photo Gallery: 41269433@N06/albums/72177720333073140/" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/41269433@N06/albums/72177720333073140/

Facing the Global Nuclear Threat: Empowering Youth for Global Security
The 2026 Critical Issues Forum (CIF) Spring Student Conference brought together nearly 90 high school students and educators from around the world in Monterey, California.

Facing the Global Nuclear Threat: Empowering Youth for Global Security The 2026 Critical Issues Forum (CIF) Spring Student Conference brought together nearly 90 high school students and educators from around the world in Monterey, California.

In Remembrance of Robert Gard
I was deeply saddened by the passing of General Robert Gard, a remarkable man and a close friend and benefactor of CNS.

In Remembrance of Robert Gard I was deeply saddened by the passing of General Robert Gard, a remarkable man and a close friend and benefactor of CNS.

A new article in the Journal of Peace Research sheds light on how the U.S. public judges different weapons of war.

In "Too Brutal for War: Comparing Rationales for Weapon Taboos," CNS Professor of the Practice Stephen Herzog, David Allison, and Lauren Sukin survey a national sample of Americans. They part ways with past research that focuses on one weapon system at a time or a small set of comparisons. Instead, their survey design enables them to look at how six different weapon types, expected civilian casualties, and operational effectiveness shape public attitudes toward military strikes.

The authors show that projected harm to civilian populations has the strongest effect on public support, and effectiveness is very important as well. But members of the public also have strong beliefs about different weapon categories. This creates a clear preference hierarchy: cyber operations are most preferred, then conventional, cluster, chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. Regardless of their other characteristics, strikes with "more taboo" weapons are likely to face stiffer public resistance.

These conclusions matter for the field's understanding of weapon taboos and the politics of military action and arms control.

Read the open-access article: https://doi.org/10.1093/jopres/xjag001

CNS has published a new issue of its flagship peer-reviewed journal, The Nonproliferation Review.

In its pages you will find: a special section on nuclear networks; articles on civilian nuclear technology transfers as nonproliferation leverage, behavioral arms control, Biological Weapons Convention confidence-building measures; and a book review on U.S. debates over nuclear counterforce targeting.

Read the full issue here:

The Nonproliferation Review Volume 32, Issue 4-6 of The Nonproliferation Review

South Africa and the 1995 NPT Review Conference
NPT members should be seriously alarmed about the treaty’s future.

South Africa and the 1995 NPT Review Conference NPT members should be seriously alarmed about the treaty’s future.