Better know a nuke: The Soviet Union and Russia
02/20/25 • 34 min
In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by nuclear experts Lydia Wachs and Andrey Baklitskiy to explore the historical and current trajectory of Russia’s nuclear arsenal. How has the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics’ nuclear policy evolved into Russia’s current arsenal? How have arms control treaties shaped nuclear stability – or failed to do so? And how can future arms control look like amidst growing global tensions? Dr Alexander Bollfrass and his guests discuss the origins of the Soviet nuclear programme, from the point of Stalin’s push to match US capabilities after the end of World War II to the rapid development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Examining the era of the Cold War, the episode provides a deep-dive into the US-Soviet arms race, resulting in arms control treaties like SALT, the INF Treaty and START.
Dr Alexander Bollfrass is Head of Strategy, Technology and Arms Control, focusing on preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, weapons of mass destruction and related delivery systems, as well as risk reduction and arms control.
Andrey Baklitskiy is a Senior Researcher in the WMD Programme at UNIDIR. His current research focuses on nuclear risk reduction and nuclear arms control. He holds a specialist diploma (MA equivalent) from the Ural Federal University.
Lydia Wachs is a PhD Candidate in International Relations at Stockholm University. Her PhD research focuses on the Soviet Union's/Russia's role in the global nuclear order, in particular its nuclear nonproliferation policy.
‘The Arms Control Poseur’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium.
We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to The Arms Control Poseur on the podcast platform of your choice.
Date of recording: 30 January 2025 and 31 January 2025
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by nuclear experts Lydia Wachs and Andrey Baklitskiy to explore the historical and current trajectory of Russia’s nuclear arsenal. How has the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics’ nuclear policy evolved into Russia’s current arsenal? How have arms control treaties shaped nuclear stability – or failed to do so? And how can future arms control look like amidst growing global tensions? Dr Alexander Bollfrass and his guests discuss the origins of the Soviet nuclear programme, from the point of Stalin’s push to match US capabilities after the end of World War II to the rapid development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Examining the era of the Cold War, the episode provides a deep-dive into the US-Soviet arms race, resulting in arms control treaties like SALT, the INF Treaty and START.
Dr Alexander Bollfrass is Head of Strategy, Technology and Arms Control, focusing on preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, weapons of mass destruction and related delivery systems, as well as risk reduction and arms control.
Andrey Baklitskiy is a Senior Researcher in the WMD Programme at UNIDIR. His current research focuses on nuclear risk reduction and nuclear arms control. He holds a specialist diploma (MA equivalent) from the Ural Federal University.
Lydia Wachs is a PhD Candidate in International Relations at Stockholm University. Her PhD research focuses on the Soviet Union's/Russia's role in the global nuclear order, in particular its nuclear nonproliferation policy.
‘The Arms Control Poseur’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium.
We hope you enjoy the episode and please follow, rate, and subscribe to The Arms Control Poseur on the podcast platform of your choice.
Date of recording: 30 January 2025 and 31 January 2025
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
Better know a nuke: The United States of America
What successes and failures of arms control have shaped the US nuclear strategy over time? In the first episode of season 4 of the Arms Control Poseur podcast, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass welcomes experts Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, Amy Woolf and Dr Rebecca Gibbons to explore the Cold War Arms race, deterrence strategies and what the future might hold for US nuclear policy. Together, they discuss the impact of historical arms control treaties, US-Russia treaty compliance as well as growing challenges posed by emerging threats.
Dr Alexander Bollfrass is Head of Strategy, Technology and Arms Control of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, focusing on preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, weapons of mass destruction and related delivery systems, as well as risk reduction and arms control.
Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins is an American diplomat who served as the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security in the Biden Administration. During the Obama administration, she was the US Department of State's coordinator for threat reduction programs in the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation.
Amy Woolf is a Nonresident Senior Fellow in the Forward Defense practice of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. She is also a former Specialist in Nuclear Weapons Policy at the Library of Congress.
Dr Rebecca Davis Gibbons is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Southern Maine. She previously served as a Fellow and Associate of the Project on Managing the Atom at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs after receiving her PhD from Georgetown University in 2016.
Join the conversation—follow us on X (@IISS_org) or visit the website of our Strategy, Technology and Arms Control research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
Better know a nuke: The United Kingdom
How has the nuclear weapons programme of the United Kingdom evolved from its origins during World War II to its strategic choices during the Cold War? With the current international order in disarray, the United Kingdom has maintained its nuclear arsenal for over 70 years, but its nuclear warheads, missiles, and delivery systems are deeply intertwined with American technology and supply chains. In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by Dr Marion Messmer, Dr Daniel Salisbury and Sebastian Brixey-Williams, leading experts on British nuclear policy, arms control and international security. Together, they provide a deep dive into the history, challenges, and the future of the UK’s nuclear weapons programme, from its World War II origins to the challenges of the Cold War and today’s geopolitical uncertainties.
Join the conversation—follow us on X (@IISS_org) or visit the website of our Strategy, Technology and Arms Control research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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