International Disarmament Institute News – Education and Research on Global Disarmament Policy

January 26, 2024
by mbolton
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Living in an Interconnected World and Addressing Challenges Like Disarmament Requires Collective Effort

The following reflection is from Sera Andrugtsang, a Pace University undergraduate who participated in the POL297L Global Politics of Disarmament and Arms Control class in Fall 2023. Students had the opportunity to engage in civic engagement assignments with disarmament advocacy efforts in the context of the UN General Assembly First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) meetings in New York City.

“In front of the world sculpture at the United Nations headquarters with my classmates” — Sera Andrugtsang

As I embarked on the Civic Engagement assignment for the Global Politics of Disarmament and Arms Control class, I was unsure of what lay ahead. Little did I anticipate the journey that was to follow would not only broaden my understanding of global affairs, but also lead to a state of self discovery. And as a classmate pointed out, much of my professional and career aspirations reached a place of clarity.

Delving into disarmament policies exposed me to the intricate network of international politics, providing a glimpse into the delicate balance nations work towards to achieve and maintain global peace and security. Through engagement with experts in the field, such as Seth Sheldon, the United Nations Liaison at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) among others, I was able to gain insights into the complexities of arm control, non-proliferation agreements, as well as the geopolitical dynamics that shape these policies. The experience yielded a myriad of takeaways.

I’ve come to realize the significance of engaging with diverse bodies and individuals, seizing opportunities and the value of networking. It quickly became clear that effective civic engagement requires the ability to listen, learn, and adapt one’s perspectives based on new knowledge. I found that being open to diverse perspectives not only enriched my understanding of disarmament as a whole but also fostered personal growth. Owing to the collaborative nature of the assignment, working in small groups underscored the importance of teamwork in navigating complex issues, and sometimes, collective effort may just bring about better results, a lesson applicable not only in my academic endeavors but in the workplace.

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January 23, 2024
by mbolton
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Nuclear-free NYC: Disarmament Institute Research Featured in Bulletin of Atomic Scientists

An article in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists this month highlighted the research by Pace University’s International Disarmament Institute on nuclear disarmament policy in New York City. Co-authored by Institute co-director Dr. Matthew Breay Bolton with disarmament campaigner, Kathleen Sullivan, the article, “Nuclear-free NYC: How New Yorkers are disarming the legacies of the Manhattan Project” outlines the history of nuclear weapons in New York City, as well as local advocacy, activism and policymaking that have made it a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone.

January 23, 2024
by mbolton
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Seeing beyond the Glamor of Diplomacy

The following reflection is from Chadha Nacer ’24, a Pace University undergraduate who participated in the POL297L Global Politics of Disarmament and Arms Control class in Fall 2023. Students had the opportunity to engage in civic engagement assignments with disarmament advocacy efforts in the context of the UN General Assembly First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) meetings in New York City.

Like many young people, I have spent my time consuming carefully curated social media posts of my dream career; I was starry-eyed with the dreams of diplomatic work, and it was punctuated with a perfectly curated Pinterest vision board.

Each picture held a token of my association with diplomacy and work within the United Nations. One was a stack of books and messy, ink-smeared writing. Another was a woman speaking with deep conviction. Another was the timberland and gold General Assembly room that seemed to shine in its threaded opulence.

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January 19, 2024
by mbolton
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Advocating for Humanity in the Face of Violence

The following reflection is from Jane Ilona Ressa ’24, a Pace University undergraduate who participated in the POL297L Global Politics of Disarmament and Arms Control class in Fall 2023. Students had the opportunity to engage in civic engagement assignments with disarmament advocacy efforts in the context of the UN General Assembly First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) meetings in New York City.

Author Jane Ressa in the General Assembly Hall, United Nations Headquarters

Taking the disarmament class last semester was a privilege, to put it simply. Not only in the ability to visit the powerful in the places that international decisions are made, but to become privy to processes that rule my life in ways that I never could have anticipated. I came into this class unaware— of the process, of the context, my place in it all, and what I could do to help.

I have learned that I am much more fearful of the institutions that rule my life than I realized. I know that this fear can be utilized to greater purpose, as a spark that leads to action. I have found more clarity in that I may not actually pursue a future in government, and may be most effective in soft power sources that assist the government in these processes. I have learned that my heart is still cold to those that abuse their powers over the vulnerable, and ever-reaching towards said vulnerable. I have also rediscovered a third character— the righteous folks that protect and create true security beyond weaponry. I seek a kinder, and safer world because I have to believe that it is possible; I will accept nothing less.

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June 13, 2023
by mbolton
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Inspired by Youth Advocacy for Disarmament

The following reflection is from Antje Hipkins ’23, a Pace University undergraduate who participated in the POL297L Global Politics of Disarmament and Arms Control class in Fall 2022. Students were given service learning assignments with local disarmament advocacy organizations working in New York City. Antje’s assignment was with the Reaching Critical Will project of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

#Leaders4Tomorrow present their ideas to advance disarmament education in UN General Assembly First Committee side event. Photo: Youth4Disarmament

For my service learning assignment, I had the pleasure of working with four classmates on a project surrounding youth and disarmament education at the United Nations. We helped draft a joint statement that was read at the UN General Assembly First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) on 13 October 2022 and was cosigned by over 60 NGOs, including the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). Drafting a statement on behalf of and with such a large group of people – students, young people, and educators all over the world – was a daunting task, but we were so encouraged to have received such resounding support from so many respected organizations.

Following the statement’s delivery, my colleagues and I continued working on a project in collaboration with Reaching Critical Will (RCW) to draft weekly articles monitoring the statements and resolutions made by UN Member States concerning their various stances on youth and disarmament as well as disarmament education. Being able to participate in this project has been one of the highlights of my collegiate career so far, as it has allowed me more practical experience, and even in-person experience at the UN, than any other class I have taken. Being able to hear our words being read in the halls of the UN has been an incredibly validating and encouraging experience.

I have deeply enjoyed being able to gain new skills, tools, and connections not only through this incredible project but throughout the entire course of this class,. I was not previously aware of how interconnected the struggle for disarmament is with many of my core interests, such as intersectionality, environmentalism, and humanitarianism. What I have learned in the past few months has strongly impacted the way that I foresee myself going forward with my career: I intend to continue working for disarmament in all of my future endeavors. For instance, I have been interning with the UN Ecumenical Office, where one of their main focus areas is nuclear disarmament. They also place immense importance on ensuring those who are most affected at the center of their efforts toward peacemaking and disarmament, which is one of the most important things I have taken away from this course.

It is easy to become discouraged when learning about how insidious and complicated the politics are surrounding arms control issues, particularly concerning nuclear weapons. Through this experience, however, I was inspired by people my own age who are taking steps in their own communities all around the world to promote disarmament. It will be us, the young people, who will inherit this complex web of weapons and destruction, and it is up to us to work as hard as we can to dismantle it. It was so encouraging to see not only classmates, but people from all over the globe pouring their passion and energy into disarmament efforts. As long as we continue to work together, we can achieve anything.

June 13, 2023
by mbolton
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Seeing the Local Impact of Global Advocacy

The following reflection is from Madison Turunen ‘23 a Pace University undergraduate who participated in the POL297L Global Politics of Disarmament and Arms Control class in Fall 2022. Students were given service learning assignments with local disarmament advocacy organizations working in New York City. Madison’s assignment was with the New York Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (NYCAN), local affiliate of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

FDNY Marine Company 9 is located on a portion of the former nuclear-capable Navy Homeport in Staten Island. Photo: Matthew Bolton, 2022.

For the civic engagement project, I worked with a group of students verifying whether the US and other governments were complying the New York City’s nuclear weapons free zone declaration in 1983, reaffirmed in 2021. We examined the history of this legislation, looked at examples of naval ships coming into the harbor, and examined the current state of former nuclear weapons development sites. In this process I had the opportunity to use my background as a Political Science and Peace and Justice Studies double major to engage with New York City’s nuclear history. In other courses I have had limited engagement with local history. With this project I was able to deeply examine the implications of the Manhattan Project and how New York City Council legislation aims to address harms in our community.

From this experience I learned that disarmament advocacy and education are essential for maintaining active accountability and encouraging action. For example, thanks to activism in the 1980s, the former nuclear-capable Navy homeport in Staten Island is no longer a military base and is now largely occupied by the Fire Department of NYC, as well as commercial and community organizations (see photos).

Part of the formerly nuclear-capable Navy homeport in Staten Island is now commercial space. Photo: Matthew Bolton, 2022.

I also learned how international norms and treaties translate to the state and local level. As someone who has worked in international advocacy spaces, it can often be difficult to see an immediate translation between global actions and localized implementation. However, I was able to see how the 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was having an effect on local politics. NYCAN drew on these emerging global norms to successfully advocated for the passage of 2021 nuclear disarmament legislation in the City Council.

Part of the formerly nuclear-capable Navy homeport in Staten Island is now space for community organizations. Photo: Matthew Bolton, 2022.

Nevertheless, many of the commitments have not yet been followed through. Specific information is also often difficult to access. Through our research we developed policy and activist recommendations to encourage following through with NYC’s commitments and overall compliance with the nuclear weapons free zone.

As someone who hopes to build a career in higher education and international advocacy, this experience was truly reaffirming of the power I yield and the potential capacities of my future career path. I also learned of the possibilities of bridging my background in international gender equality and youth development with disarmament, as well as localizing the issues. By centralizing disarmament education and opportunities to inspire younger generations, the overall advocacy and policy space become intergeneration, and in turn intersectional.

October 11, 2022
by mbolton
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Finding My Voice in Global Disarmament Advocacy

The following reflection is from Taylor Mangus ‘23 a Pace University undergraduate who participated in the POL297L Global Politics of Disarmament and Arms Control class in Fall 2021. Students were given service learning assignments with disarmament advocacy organizations working in and around the UN Students were given service learning assignments with disarmament advocacy organizations working in and around the UN and New York City. Taylor’s assignment was with a network of young people who drafted a joint statement on youth and disarmament education, delivered before the UN General Assembly First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) by fellow Pace student Jeremiah Williams ‘23.

Left to right: Ambassador Maritza Chan of Costa Rica with Pace University students Jeremiah Williams ’23 and Taylor Mangus ’23 at the “Youth Initiative to Reverse The Trend of Existential Threats” event at the Yale Club, November 2, 2021. Photo by Anya Chackes.

During my Civic Engagement assignment for Dr. Bolton’s disarmament class in Fall 2021, I was able to get involved with disarmament in ways that I never expected. By being able to assist in writing the 2021 Joint Civil Society Statement on Youth Engagement and Peace, Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education, I was able to immerse myself in disarmament activism.

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July 26, 2022
by mbolton
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Humanitarian Action on Nuclear Weapons: Reinvigorating Nuclear Diplomacy in the NPT and Beyond

The use and testing of nuclear weapons has had catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences, which have been inadequately addressed by global policy. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), negotiated at the United Nations (UN) in 2017, is a categorical rejection of what had been the only weapons of mass destruction not yet banned by international law. But the TPNW also includes “positive obligations,” addressing the ongoing consequences of nuclear weapons use, testing, and related activities. These provisions were a major topic of discussion at the first meeting of states parties to the TPNW in June 2022 in Vienna, Austria. Discussions also centered on survivors’ voices and offered surprising moments of openness and collaboration between states parties and observer states that are not yet party to the TPNW, including some in nuclear alliances. The resulting Vienna Action Plan outlines a practical and forward-looking agenda, addressing the long-neglected impact of the more than 2,000 nuclear detonations in affected communities. It also provides opportunities for states to pursue other diplomatic priorities of the 21st century, including sustainable development, gender equity, disability justice, the rights of Indigenous Peoples, and mitigation of environmental pollution.

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June 17, 2022
by mbolton
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Race, Disarmament and International Politics

The following reflection is from Magnolia Garcia Garcia, a Pace University undergraduate who participated in the POL297L Global Politics of Disarmament and Arms Control class in Fall 2021. Students were given service learning assignments with disarmament advocacy organizations working in and around the UN and New York City. Magnolia’s assignment was with the network of organizations that planned the 2021 Humanitarian Disarmament Forum on Race and Intersectionality.

The 2021 Humanitarian Disarmament Forum (HDF) focused on intersectionality, specifically regarding race and racism in the humanitarian disarmament community. Working with the amazing planning team of the event was rewarding and fulfilling. The members of this team included Hayley, Isabelle, Farah, Ousman, and Clare, some of them working with the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots and others with Soka Gakkai International.

There were many things that this civic engagement experience taught me about myself, the disarmament process, and international politics.

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June 17, 2022
by mbolton
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Addressing British nuclear tests in Kiribati: a new opportunity for victim assistance and environmental remediation

The first Meeting of States Parties (1MSP) of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is taking place in Vienna from 21-23 June 2022. Countries will come together to begin operationalising the victim assistance, environmental remediation and international cooperation and assistance provisions of the TPNW.

Launched ahead of 1MSP, “Addressing British nuclear tests in Kiribati: a new opportunity for victim assistance and environmental remediation” is co-written by Dr. Matthew Breay Bolton of Pace University’s International Disarmament Institute, along with NGO experts and academics who have conducted significant field and policy research relating to the UK’s nuclear testing. The report, published by the UN Association of the UK, focuses on the harm caused by the UK’s tests in Kiribati in the context of new opportunities for recognition and remediation, given Kiribati’s role as a state party to the TPNW.

From 1952 to 1991 the UK undertook 98 nuclear weapon tests internationally including 45 explosive nuclear weapon tests, as well as 29 minor trial series and facilitation of a further 24 tests which took place on British administered and colonised lands. These tests have had long lasting humanitarian and environmental consequences. Victims include affected communities in the countries where tests took place, including indigenous peoples, as well as the British and colonial service personnel directly involved or serving nearby.

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