The Problem of Avoiding Nuclear War between great Powers: What Law has to do with it?
Talk by Mattias Kumm
The threat of nuclear war between the United States, Russia or China is greater today than at any time in the past 60 years. The talk will analyze the nature of the threat and argue that the deterrent of mutually assured destruction (MAD), though continuing to impose a disciplining effect, is an unreliable safeguard against nuclear escalation, generally and particularly in today's strategic landscape. A radical focus on strengthening and building a legal and political infrastructure aimed at avoiding and ultimately, precluding, great power conflict is necessary.
Mattias Kumm is Research Professor "Global Constitutionalism" at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center and Professor "Rule of Law in the Age of Globalization" at Humboldt University Berlin.
The event is part of the WZB series (Un)Solvable Problems? Social Science Perspectives on the Challenges of our Time, which will take place online on Fridays from 9 to 10 a.m. until 8 December 2023.
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