Nuclear deterrence and disarmament discussions often center on potential future use and threats of use of nuclear weapons. Attention is growing, however, on the harm that nuclear weapons have already done, mostly focused on the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and on nuclear testing impacts. This seminar offers a nuclear justice lens derived from concepts of transitional justice (TJ). Traditionally applied in the context of human rights violations the analytical and normative framework can be used to study the nuclear past and present efforts to address it. We propose to understand nuclear harm as a form of “systemic wrongdoing”. Specifically, recent work by TJ scholars on colonial crimes and post-colonial injustice bears direct relevance for discussions on nuclear justice. We use the different “pillars” of TJ – criminal liability, redress, truth-telling, and reform – to analyze the progress made since the start of the nuclear age in addressing nuclear injustice and to identify gaps and potentials for political and legal action. The seminar builds on the 2021 Peace Research Institute Frankfurt report Beyond the Ban: A Global Agenda for Nuclear Justice.
Speakers:
- Francesca Giovannini (Moderator)
The seminar is part of the Managing the Atom's Atomic Voices Series and is open to the public.
When: Friday, December 1, 2023, 10:00am – 12:00pm
Where: Zoom (Online)
Further information and the link for the Zoom webinar registration can be found on the website of the Belfer Center.
Any recording or use of content from this webinar by the public or media is restricted. We request that you ask for permission before using any material from the webinar.