J-term Course:
Nuclear Nonproliferation and Arms Control

January 11 - 30, 2008
Monterey, CA

This 2 unit J-term course is aimed at students with limited or no experience in nuclear nonproliferation, arms control and disarmament, but interested in gaining basic understandings of issues related to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and associated delivery systems, and the international responses to it. As such the course will be useful to Monterey Institute students specializing in translation and interpretation, conflict resolution, terrorism studies and other related fields. The course is also available to students outside the Monterey Institute as well as to non-students, including young diplomats, journalists and individuals interested gaining more knowledge about this important and exciting subject.

The course is divided into two main segments. Prior to the start of the course on January 11, 2008, course participants will be required to work through a "Nonproliferation e-Collection" designed to provide access to unique online sources, including interviews with notable figures in the field. The bulk of the course will be offered on the campus of the Monterey Institute of International Studies, in Monterey CA. This more formal part of the course will cover the history of nuclear and missile proliferation; nuclear and missile technologies and the nuclear fuel cycle; nuclear postures of states with nuclear weapons; the threat of radiological terrorism and global nuclear and missile proliferation trends. The course will also focus on the international response to nuclear proliferation, such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT); the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards system; the role of the United Nations, including the Security Council; measures to counter nuclear terrorism and illicit trafficking in nuclear materials; and export control regimes. The course will be conducted in an interactive way, and will provide participants with a unique opportunity to simulate a negotiated outcome to a critical nonproliferation challenge. In-class debates on critical nuclear nonproliferation, arms control and disarmament issues will be conducted throughout the course.