The Future of Weapons of Mass Destruction: Their Nature and Role in 2030

John P. Caves, Jr. and W. Seth Carus
Occasional Paper 10, June 2014
This Occasional Paper explores the impact of technological change and the evolving geopolitical environment on the future weapons of mass destruction threat.  Technological advances will enable new forms of chemical and biological weapons, and may increase proliferation risks for nuclear weapons. An increasingly multipolar international system could make weapons of mass destruction more attractive, while declining Western influence could undermine regimes intended to control their proliferation and use. The authors conclude by posing answers to the question: “How should the United States prepare for such a future?”

Proliferation Security Initiative: Origins and  Evolution

Susan J. Koch
Occasional Paper 9, June 2012
Following a failed interdiction in late 2002, the U.S. Government decided that a new multinational approach was needed to prevent WMD proliferation shipments from reaching their intended destinations.  The result was the Proliferation Security Initiative, an unprecedented "activity, not an organization" to combat WMD proliferation.  This Occasional Paper explores the origins and evolution of PSI, and considers steps required to sustain and increase its counterproliferation role.

Defining "Weapons of Mass Destruction"

W. Seth Carus
Occasional Paper 8, January 2012
This occasional paper explores the issue of defining "weapons of mass destruction."

Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction: Looking Back, Looking Ahead

Paul I. Bernstein, John P. Caves, Jr., and John F. Reichart
Occasional Paper 7, October 2009
This Occasional Paper traces the general evolution of the countering WMD enterprise in the Clinton and Bush administrations and anticipates some of the major WMD challenges that lie ahead. 

International Partnerships to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction

Paul I. Bernstein
Occasional Paper 6, May 2008
This Occasional Paper examines the role, manifestations, and challenges of international cooperation to combat the weapons of mass destruction threat and poses important questions for future leaders to address in moving international cooperation forward in this area.

The Future Nuclear Landscape

Paul Bernstein, John P. Caves, Jr., and John F. Reichart
Occasional Paper 5, April 2007
This Occasional Paper examines aspects of the contemporary and emerging international security enviroment that the authors believe will define the future nuclear landscape and identifies some associated priorities for policymakers. 

Defining "Weapons of Mass Destruction"

W. Seth Carus
Occasional Paper 4, January 2006
This Occasional Paper explores the issue of defining weapons of mass destruction with a focus on summarizing how the term has been used in disarmament negotiations, U.S. national security policy, Soviet and Russian military doctrine, and American political discourse. The paper identifies alternative definitions for WMD, addresses some of the key policy issues associated with different definitions, and proposes a definition appropriate for the Department of Defense.

Can al Qaeda Be Deterred from Using Nuclear Weapons?

Lewis A. Dunn
Occasional Paper 3, July 2005
This occasional paper pursues four different but complementary approaches to dissect the issue of whether acquisition of NBC/R weapons will mean employment for Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda.

Iraq and After: Taking the Right Lessons for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction

Michael Eisenstadt
Occasional Paper 2, May 2005
This paper primarily focuses on Iraq; however, it also seeks to draw lessons from experiences in libya and Iran to understand better how proliferators think about WMD; the challenges in assessing the status and sophistication of developing world WMD programs; the contours of the emerging international proliferation landscape; and the efficacy of various policy instruments available to the United States for dealing with these so-called ultimate weapons.