Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs - Russia and Former Soviet Union

Preventing Insider Theft: Lessons from the Casino and Pharmaceutical Industries

Matthew Bunn — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 08:53:17 -0500

June 17, 2013

Through structured interviews and a literature review, we assess which approaches to protection against insider thefts in the casino and pharmaceutical industries could be usefully applied to strengthen protections against insider theft in the nuclear industry, where insider thefts could have very high consequences.

On Iran's Nuclear Program, Obama Should Take a Cue From JFK and 'Go First'

Matthew Bunn — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 10:11:09 -0500

"Fifty years ago, President John F. Kennedy delivered a commencement address at American University whose message echoes down the decades to the challenges America faces today – including the challenge of Iran."

Bold Initiatives to Reduce Tensions – 50 Years Ago and Today

Matthew Bunn — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 09:34:29 -0500

"The fundamental idea that conciliatory actions can help overcome mistrust and misperceptions is as applicable today as it was a half century ago. And certainly the U.S.-Iranian standoff is one of many challenges desperately in need of an approach for beginning to roll back the distorted perceptions that make it so difficult to find whether any genuine common ground exists."

Belfer Center Newsletter Summer 2013

Sharon Wilke — Tue, 14 May 2013 07:20:44 -0500

The Summer 2013 issue of the Belfer Center newsletter features recent and upcoming activities, research, and analysis by members of the Center community on critical global issues. This edition highlights the Belfer Center’s expanding work on complex cybersecurity issues and Middle East challenges, offers reflections on the role of the U.S. in Iraq, and spotlights work being done by the Center and its affiliates on environment and energy issues.

Elbe Group Facilitates U.S.-Russia Communication, Security

Kevin Ryan — Tue, 14 May 2013 07:02:01 -0500

As U.S. and Soviet forces converged in Germany in the final days of WWII, both armies met at the River Elbe near Torgau. That meeting of comrades, united in the face of common threats, is the inspiration for the Belfer Center’s “Elbe Group,” whose purpose is to maintain an open and continuous channel of communication on sensitive issues of U.S.-Russian relations. In late March, the Elbe Group met in Jerusalem for its eighth meeting since its founding in 2010.

Russia in Review

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:42:05 -0500

Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for March 29 - April 5, 2013.

Obama's Nuclear Vision - or Illusion?

Graham Allison — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:42:22 -0500

"Four years ago today, President Obama gave his first speech abroad. In Prague, he announced a bold vision for a “world without nuclear weapons.” Four years on, it is fair to ask: How is that working out? Assessing all the positives, and all the negatives, are we closer to the president’s aspiration — or further from it?"

Why Nuclear Powers Should Start Walking Toward Global Zero

Simon Saradzhyan — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:09:45 -0500

"On April 5, 2009 President Barack Obama gave a speech that was supposed to set the agenda for his presidency in international security. “I state clearly and with conviction America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons,” he proclaimed in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Prague. Four years later, however, this drive to achieve “Global Zero” seems to have waned to a point when even another round of modest reductions in US and Russian arsenals appears difficult to achieve."

U.S.-Russia Arms Control: Prospects and Challenges

Amb. Steven Pifer — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:46:26 -0500

This seminar examined the prospects for further nuclear arms reductions between the United States and Russia, including the possibility that negotiations might be expanded to weapons not limited by the New START Treaty. The seminar covered U.S. and Russian differences over missile defense and how those might be resolved to allow a cooperative NATO-Russia missile defense arrangement for Europe.

'Star Wars' Today: What would Reagan do?

Graham Allison — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 09:50:09 -0500

"President Reagan stunned fellow citizens and the world 30 years ago this month with a dramatic announcement that the United States would develop and deploy a system capable of intercepting and destroying strategic ballistic missiles." For Reagan, Graham Allison writes, "this was an essential steppingstone to his even grander vision of a world free of nuclear weapons. [To] persuade America's Cold War adversary to eliminate its superpower nuclear arsenal as well, Reagan proposed to share this SDI technology with Moscow."

A Way Forward on Nuclear Disarmament

Sven-Eric Fikenscher — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 10:12:16 -0600

"Rather than continuing to spend billions of taxpayer dollars on deploying an all-encompassing system of highly doubtful effectiveness that threatens to seriously undermine Washington's nuclear security and disarmament agenda, the Obama administration should shelve the plans for deploying the fourth phase in Europe and engage Russia in joint talks."

View From the Global Tank: Russia Can Shoulder Obama’s Challenges - After a BMD Deal

Simon Saradzhyan — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:12:27 -0600

Simon Saradzhyan explains how the growing gap between the U.S. and Russia negatively impacts many goals, both foreign and domestic, outlined in President Obama's second inaugural address, and argues that a deal between the two powers over America's ballistic missile defense (BMD) program in Europe could lead to greater Russian involvement and cooperation in American foreign policy objectives, leaving more time for Obama to address domestic concerns.

President Obama's WMD "Czar" Appointed Executive Director of Belfer Center

James F. Smith — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 15:19:27 -0600

Gary Samore, President Obama’s Coordinator for Weapons of Mass Destruction Counter-Terrorism and Arms Control, has been appointed Executive Director (Research) for Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. A former fellow with the Belfer Center's International Security Program, Samore has served for the past four years as the principal advisor to the President on all matters relating to arms control and the prevention of weapons of mass destruction proliferation and WMD terrorism.

Russia in Review

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:26:14 -0600

December 21, 2012

Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for December 14-21, 2012.

Belfer Center Newsletter Winter 2012-2013

Sharon Wilke — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 07:22:36 -0600

The Winter 2012-13 issue of the Belfer Center newsletter features recent and upcoming activities, research, and analysis by members of the Center community on critical global issues. This edition highlights the Belfer Center’s commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. In addition to the background on those 13 days in 1962 when the world was on the brink of nuclear war, the Center focuses on the decision-making that averted a nuclear catastrophe and the lessons from that event for leaders of today. We include winners and winning entries from our “Best Cuban Missile Crisis Lessons” contest, co-sponsored with Foreign Policy magazine.

Still Learning Fresh Lessons from the Cuban Missile Crisis

Sharon Wilke — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 07:21:15 -0600

Fifty years ago this October, as the Cuban Missile Crisis intensified, the world stood on the brink of a nuclear war. During 13 terrifying days in October 1962, people around the globe watched as President Kennedy and Soviet Premier Khrushchev searched for a way to move their countries—and the world—away from the nuclear cliff.

The Belfer Center commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis in October by encouraging fresh thinking on lessons learned from that dangerous confrontation—and how those lessons can be applied to crises encountered today.

"International Crises After the Election"

Charles Hobbs — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:07:52 -0600

November 28, 2012

David Manning, former UK Ambassador to the US, spoke widely on his thoughts on many of the pressing issues that are facing international diplomats in the coming decade in a November 26th, 2012, lecture to Harvard Kennedy School students and faculty.

Russia in Review

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:00:43 -0600

Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for November 9-15, 2012

Lessons from the Cuban Missile Crisis for Today’s Crises

James F. Smith — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:51:05 -0500

In Harvard Professor Graham Allison’s view, “the significant unknowns” during the Cuban Missile Crisis nearly catapulted John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev into nuclear war. For former diplomat Nicholas Burns, the principal take-away from the crisis was the importance of giving an adversary a way out of a confrontation short of complete surrender. Allison and Burns were panelists on Oct. 14 at a forum at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston to consider the modern lessons flowing from the missile crisis. The event kicked off an intensive series of seminars and workshops for scholars from Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs to mark the 50th anniversary of the missile crisis. Panel moderator Juliette Kayyem, Kennedy School lecturer in public policy, reminded the audience that the missile crisis is often framed through the myth of the tough American president staring down the Russian foe and making him blink. Kayyem said that version fails to capture the nuanced secret diplomacy and the American concessions that made a deal possible.

Russia in Review

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:23:01 -0500

Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for the week of October 26 - November 2, 2012

Inside the Situation Room: A National Security Crisis Simulation

Sharon Wilke — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 09:49:48 -0500

Harvard Kennedy School students convened at the Kennedy School on October 27 to simulate a meeting of the National Security Council to resolve a modern-day crisis. The simulation, developed entirely by a team of HKS students, coordinated by HKS student Leon Ratz, was co-sponsored by the Belfer Center and the Kennedy School's Center for Public Leadership. The event was timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Winners of Cuban Missile Crisis Lessons Contest Announced

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:38:35 -0500

The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and Foreign Policy Magazine have announced the winners and runners-up of the “Lessons of the Cuban Missile Crisis Contest,” held to mark the 50^th anniversary of the crisis that narrowly averted nuclear war in October 1962.

Picasso, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Malcolm Wiener

Sharon Wilke — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 12:45:12 -0500

As visitors step through the doors of the Kennedy Memorial Library for events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, they will find on display Picasso's 1963 Rape of the Sabine Women - on loan from Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. The connection between Picasso's painting and what is widely accepted as the most dangerous moment in human history was brought to light for many by Malcolm Wiener, a member of the Belfer Center’s International Council and the person for whom Harvard Kennedy School’s Malcolm Wiener Center for Social Policy was named.

Our Own Worst Enemy? Institutional Interests and the Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Expertise Wins 2012 Louis Brownlow Book Award

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 20:27:18 -0500

Sharon's Weiner's, Our Own Worst Enemy? Institutional Interests and the Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Expertise, which was published in 2011 in the Belfer Center Studies in International Security book series, has won the National Academy of Public Administration's 2012 Louis Brownlow Book Award.

Russia in Review

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:02:32 -0500

October 19, 2012

Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for the week of October 12-19, 2012

Winners Announced for Cuban Missile Crisis Lessons Contest

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 13:23:09 -0500

On the 50^th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center and Foreign Policy Magazine invited policymakers, scholars, students, and members of the public to propose 300-word lessons for today’s leaders from the 13 days in 1962 when the world stood on the brink of nuclear war. Today, the Belfer Center and Foreign Policy are pleased to announce the winners of the Cuban Missile Crisis lessons contest.

Russia in Review

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:56:28 -0500

Russia in Review: a digest of useful news from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for the week of October 5-12, 2012

Whom Would You Call?

David Ignatius — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 09:00:11 -0500

According to the Washington Post’s David Ignatius, currently a Fischer Family Fellow with the Belfer Center’s Future of Diplomacy Project, “Any presidential election is in part a referendum on the 3 a.m. question: Whom do you trust to answer and make a wise decision if the red phone rings in the middle of the night with a nuclear crisis? The remaining weeks of this presidential campaign will focus more on the foreign policy issues that will help Americans make this decision. And it should help concentrate our minds that this month marks the 50th anniversary of the most dangerous moment in modern American history, the Cuban missile crisis.”

The U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Newsletter: August-September 2012

Simon Saradzhyan — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:43:48 -0500

The U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism Newsletter is a forum for discussing nuclear terrorism and actions to contribute to improved joint US-Russian assessment of the threat of nuclear terrorism. Available in both English and Russian.

The Cuban Missile Crisis at 50

Joseph S. Nye — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:45:40 -0500

"We can conclude that nuclear deterrence mattered in the crisis and that the nuclear dimension certainly figured in Kennedy's thinking. But it was not the ratio of nuclear weapons that mattered so much as the fear that even a few nuclear weapons would wreak intolerable devastation."