With support from the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, CCDS has developed an online course on nuclear security and nonproliferation issues, the first session of which was conducted on 26 May 2022 by Dr Thomas Jonter, Stockholm University professor of international relations.

Dr Jonter started the course with a historical overview of nuclear weapons, their appearance during World War II and the processes that followed. The cases of the use of nuclear weapons and their consequences were also discussed. Apart from that, participants familiarized themselves with the list of the states that have nuclear weapons in their possession - the so-called Nuclear States - and the basic concepts and terms used in the nuclear security studies.

Further, Dr. Jonter introduced important agreements and organizations that deal with nuclear security and arms export controls, stressing the importance of the International Atomic Energy Agency as a watchdog over the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Other issues highlighted by the speaker included the past and present state of nuclear energy management as well as the new nuclear order and threats and challenges related to it.

The Q&A session in the end gave an opportunity to the participants to ask questions about the current situation in Europe and the threats emerging from Russia’s war in Ukraine.

In the following months, this initial lecture will be followed by a number of lectures and meetings with experts on nuclear security as part of the course.

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