Curtin University brought 2024 in with a bang by hosting the international symposium, Re-imagining the Global Nuclear Order, alongside the Henry A. Kissinger Centre for Global Affairs. This event was held at the Bentley Curtin Campus from the 9th until the 11th of January.
Students attended various panels over the three days and heard differing opinions on nuclear proliferation. Professors from around the world joined the discussion, including Sergey Radchenko, Alexey Muraviev, John McKay and many more.
Curtin University student Imaan Rashid said her favourite aspect of the symposium “was the diversity of speakers from different backgrounds. They spoke with different perspectives.”
Organiser and Dean of Global Futures at Curtin University, Joseph Siracusa, believed nuclear weapons aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
“Deterrence and the strength it brings with it is the key to future success,” said Dr Siracusa during his panel.
Curtin University student Jacob Findlay said: “It’s been pretty nice to have open conversations that aren’t self-censored.”
The world has seen an increase in geopolitical tensions between nuclear-armed states and a breakdown in nuclear arms control over the past few years.
Examples of this are Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and continued nuclear threats, North Korea’s nuclear expansion and the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
With the changing geopolitical landscape in mind, panel members and students were posed with the question: Is arms control as we know it dead?
Some students also participated in the class section of the symposium. Involved students attended the panel meetings and discussions, and after lunch, they met and had the opportunity to discuss the question above in depth.
Jacob said, “The main project of the class is, as a group, we present a policy position on Australia’s nuclear non-proliferation campaign.”
Some students opted to only attend the panel discussion.
“To be honest, I didn’t know a lot coming into this. I didn’t know so much about nuclear weapons and world order, and the discussion on nuclear weapons and AI was really interesting,” said Imaan.
The symposium allowed students and international professors/reflective practitioners to discuss the nuclear issues that continue to challenge the world.
“The fact that I am able to have an entire assignment arguing for Australia to get nukes and not have people have a cry about it, is a pretty good thing,” said Jacob.
Although Australia does not have nuclear weapons, it is a part of the AUKUS treaty. This is a trilateral treaty between Australia, the US and the UK. It has been designed as a security partnership, aiding and influencing Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines.
Australia’s nuclear submarine project will cost up to $368 billion and will be completed over the next three decades. Pending the approval of the US Congress, the Australian government is expected to take three submarines early next decade.
The Curtin University Guild opposed the federal governments decision to spend $368 billion on nuclear powered submarines, and demanded Australia withdraw from the AUKUS treaty. The Guild’s stance aligns with the National Union of Students who also called for a University boycott of the submarine program.
There are more than 12,705 nuclear weapons in the world, according to the UN, and WA has been intertwined with their development, as seen through the Montebello Islands nuclear weapons testing.
According to the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, since 1950, there have been multiple ‘broken arrow’ incidents. These incidents happen when a nuclear weapon is accidentally launched, fired, detonated, stolen, or lost. There are around six nuclear weapons unaccounted for worldwide.
The questions remains: is nuclear disarmament feasible?
