Rigid Structures, Evolving Threat: Chemical Weapons Nonproliferation in the 21st Century
Abstract
The Center for Strategic and International Studies’ (CSIS) International Security Program (ISP) proposes to complement the research efforts of the United States Air Force’s Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) and the Project on Advanced Systems and Concepts for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (PASCC) by delivering a 12-month study on the evolution of chemical weapons (CW) and the ability of the global nonproliferation regime to prevent future proliferation and use of CW. The study will review trends in CW acquisition and use to identify critical gaps in the CW nonproliferation regime, with a particular focus on the contemporary cases of CW employment by the Assad regime in Syria, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and North Korea. The study team will develop a list of recommended mitigation strategies to close or reduce these gaps and improve the international community’s ability to address the threat posed by the continued use of CW and deal with potential future CW crises, both in terms of proliferation and employment. The project, which will result in a 30-40 page publication and a briefing designed for public and senior-leader engagement, will entail interviews with U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), United Nations (UN), Australia Group (AG), and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) officials. The CSIS study team will also hold three private workshops in Washington, D.C., with humanitarian, legal, and nonproliferation experts. The project will be led by Rebecca Hersman, Director of the Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) and Senior Adviser for the International Security Program at CSIS.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 17, 2018
- Source ID
- FA70001810008
Entities
People
- Rebecca Hersman
Organizations
- Center for Strategic and International Studies
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency
- United States Air Force Academy