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The Arms Control Primer

by The International Institute for Strategic Studies · English · News

The Arms Control Primer is a thought-provoking podcast series that unpacks the most pressing arms-control issues, explores the nuclear past, present and future, and discusses measures to combat miscalculation, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. Each episode

New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 38 min
Latest: 1 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

1 Oct 2026 · 48 min

Better know a treaty: The UN Charter

Signed three weeks before the first nuclear test, the UN Charter says nothing about nuclear weapons, yet it has served as the operating system for the global order for 80 years. Dr Ben Kienzle and Dr Erin Pobjie join host Dr Alexander Bollfrass to explain how UN bodies, diplomatic forums and international law have tried to regulate the use of force and the weapons states possess and whether the system can survive today's crisis. ‘ The Arms Control Primer ’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S6 · 30 Sep 2026 · 1 min
The Arms Control Primer | Season 6 | Trailer
🎙️ Season 6 of Arms Control Primer starts 01 October! This season, we're diving deep into the major international arms control treaties: how they came to be, where they succeeded, and where they fell short. Along the way, we'll uncover lessons for today's efforts on arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament. ‘ The Arms Control Primer ’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 · E12 · 9 Jul 2026 · 50 min
Better know a non-nuke: Argentina
How Argentina pursued nuclear autonomy without ever building a weapon, resisted the NPT on principle and co-founded a landmark bilateral inspection regime with Brazil that rewrote the rules of regional non-proliferation. ‘ The Arms Control Primer ’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 · E11 · 16 Apr 2026 · 53 min
Better know a non-nuke: Brazil
How Brazil moved from nuclear autonomy and a secret parallel programme to regional safeguards, democratic oversight and a leading role in disarmament debates. 📩 Join the conversation—follow us on X (@IISS_org), LinkedIn or Instagram (iissorg) or visit the webpage of our Strategy, Technology and Arms Control research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme ‘ The Arms Control Primer ’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium Hosted on Acast. See…
S5 · E10 · 2 Apr 2026 · 43 min
Better know a non-nuke: South Korea
From hosting US nuclear weapons during the Cold War to pursuing and abandoning its own nuclear ambitions, South Korea offers a revealing case study in deterrence, alliance politics and nuclear hedging on the Korean Peninsula. 📩 Join the conversation—follow us on X (@IISS_org), LinkedIn or Instagram (iissorg) or visit the webpage of our Strategy, Technology and Arms Control research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme ‘ The Arms Control Primer ’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU…
S5 · E9 · 5 Mar 2026 · 37 min
Better know a non-nuke: Belarus
In this episode of The Arms Control Primer , Dr Alexander Bollfrass, Elena Sokova and Dr Alexander Sorg examine Belarus’s journey from hosting Soviet nuclear weapons to relinquishing them after independence and joining the NPT as a non-nuclear-weapon state. They explore the disarmament process of the 1990s and assess the implications of Russia’s renewed deployment of nuclear-capable systems on Belarusian territory for arms control and regional security today. 📩 Join the conversation—follow us on X (@IISS_org), LinkedIn or Instagram (iissorg) or visit the webpage of our Strategy, Technology…
S5 · E8 · 19 Feb 2026 · 34 min
Better know a non-nuke: Kazakhstan
In this week’s episode of The Arms Control Primer, Dr Alexander Bollfrass speaks with Dr Togzhan Kassenova about Kazakhstan’s legacy as the Soviet Union’s primary nuclear testing site, the human and environmental toll at Semipalatinsk, and the political decision to relinquish the world’s fourth-largest nuclear arsenal. They explore Kazakhstan’s path from inheriting over 1,000 warheads to joining the NPT, shaping the Budapest Memorandum, and championing the TPNW and what its experience means for today’s nuclear risk debates. 📩 Join the conversation—follow us on X (@IISS_org), LinkedIn or…
S5 · E7 · 5 Feb 2026 · 47 min
Better know a non-nuke: Ukraine
In this episode of The Arms Control Primer , host Dr Alexander Bollfrass speaks with Dr Polina Sinovets and Darya Dolzikova about Ukraine’s nuclear history, from its role in the Soviet nuclear weapons programme to relinquishing nuclear arms in the 1990s, examining the Budapest Memorandum, nuclear coercion during Russia’s war against Ukraine, and the lessons this case holds for deterrence, non-proliferation, and security guarantees today. 📩 Join the conversation—follow us on X (@IISS_org), LinkedIn or Instagram (iissorg) or visit the webpage of our Strategy, Technology and Arms Control…
S5 · E6 · 18 Dec 2025 · 33 min
Better know a non-nuke: Libya
In this episode of The Arms Control Primer , host Dr Alexander Bollfrass speaks with Dr Hassan Elbahtimy and Robert Kelley about Libya’s nuclear ambitions from 1969 to 2003, from foreign assistance and links to the A.Q. Khan network to the inspections that followed Muammar Gaddafi’s decision to abandon the programme and the lessons it holds for arms control and verification. 📩 Join the conversation—follow us on X (@IISS_org), LinkedIn or Instagram (iissorg) or visit the webpage of our Strategy, Technology and Arms Control research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS…
S5 · E5 · 4 Dec 2025 · 46 min
Better know a non-nuke: Germany
In this episode of The Arms Control Primer , host Dr Alexander Bollfrass speaks with Prof Marina Henke and Dr Andreas Lutsch about Germany’s post-war nuclear trajectory, from early ambitions and NATO’s nuclear-sharing role to the NPT and renewed debates over deterrence amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. 📩 Join the conversation—follow us on X (@IISS_org), LinkedIn or Instagram (iissorg) or visit the webpage of our Strategy, Technology and Arms Control research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme ‘ The Arms Control Primer ’ is a podcast series produced by the…
S5 · E4 · 20 Nov 2025 · 36 min
Better know a non-nuke: South Africa
In this episode of The Arms Control Primer , host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by Prof Anna-Mart van Wyk and Dr Robin E. Möser to explore how apartheid-era South Africa built a nuclear arsenal and how, after the end of apartheid, it became the first state to dismantle its weapons entirely. 📩 Join the conversation—follow us on X (@IISS_org), LinkedIn or Instagram (iissorg) or visit the webpage of our Strategy, Technology and Arms Control research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme ‘ The Arms Control Primer ’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS…
S5 · E3 · 30 Oct 2025 · 37 min
Better know a non-nuke: Sweden
In this episode of The Arms Control Primer , host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by Dr Emma Rosengren and Dr Thomas Jonter to examine Sweden’s nuclear ambitions during the Cold War, from its dual-use programme and domestic debate to its renunciation of the bomb and emergence as a leader in global disarmament. 📩 Join the conversation—follow us on X (@IISS_org), LinkedIn or Instagram (iissorg) or visit the website of our Strategy, Technology and Arms Control research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme ‘ The Arms Control Primer ’ is a podcast series…
S5 · E2 · 16 Oct 2025 · 39 min
Better know a non-nuke: Iraq
In this episode of The Arms Control Primer , host Alex Bollfrass is joined by Dr Hans Blix and Dr Stephen Herzog to examine Iraq’s nuclear ambitions under Saddam Hussein: from its early civilian programme to clandestine enrichment efforts and the post-Gulf War inspections that reshaped international safeguards and the future of arms control. 📩 Join the conversation—follow us on X (@IISS_org), LinkedIn or Instagram (iissorg) or visit the website of our Strategy, Technology and Arms Control research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme ‘ The Arms Control…
S5 · 2 Oct 2025 · 1 min
The Arms Control Primer | Season 5 | Trailer
The Arms Control Poseur is now the Arms Control Primer! 🎙️ Hosted by Alex Bollfrass, Season 5 explores the nuclear past, present, and future by examining countries that once pursued or possessed nuclear weapons but ultimately gave them up. What lessons can their choices teach us about non-proliferation, arms control, and disarmament today? ‘ The Arms Control Primer ’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S5 · E1 · 2 Oct 2025 · 43 min
Better know a non-nuke: Iran
In the season premiere of The Arms Control Primer , host Alex Bollfrass is joined by Dr. Nicole Grajewski and Dr. Azadeh Zamirirad to unpack Iran’s nuclear programme - from its origins under the Shah to the JCPOA, the 2025 Israel–Iran conflict, and the uncertain road ahead for diplomacy, deterrence and non-proliferation. 📩 Join the conversation—follow us on X (@IISS_org), LinkedIn or Instagram (iissorg) or visit the website of our Strategy, Technology and Arms Control research programme: Strategy, Technology and Arms Control | IISS Research programme ‘ The Arms Control Primer ’ is a podcast…
S4 · E10 · 24 Apr 2025 · 30 min
Better know a nuke: net assessment
In the last episode of season 4 of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alex Bollfrass brings together insights from across the series for a sobering, thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion on nuclear strategies, global risk dynamics and the path for arms control. Alex Bollfrass is joined by Zuzanna Gwadera, a research analyst from the IISS, who reflects on moments from the season and what they reveal about the evolving global nuclear order. 📩 Join the conversation—follow us on X (@IISS_org), LinkedIn or Instagram (iissorg) or visit the website of our Strategy, Technology and Arms Control…
S4 · E9 · 10 Apr 2025 · 42 min
Better know a nuke: North Korea
With the story of North Korea’s nuclear programme commencing in the 1950s under Kim Il Sung, following the end of the Soviet support and the imbalance of power with South Korea, Pyongyang began to see nuclear weapons not only as a deterrent, but as a necessary tool for regime survival. In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by leading nuclear policy experts Dr Jingdong Yuan, Dr Daniel Salisbury and Ankit Panda to deep dive into the closed world of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions – from its Cold War roots to its modern missile arsenal and the…
S4 · E8 · 3 Apr 2025 · 34 min
Better know a nuke: Pakistan
How did Pakistan become a nuclear power? Between India and China, how does Pakistan manage deterrence in a volatile region with two-nuclear armed neighbours, growing asymmetry, and no effective arms control mechanisms in place? After Pakistan’s nuclear journey began in the 1950s with civilian ambitions, it developed nuclear enrichment capabilities in the early 19080s and conducted first tests. In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by leading nuclear policy experts Dr Rabia Akhtar and Dr Mansoor Ahmed to discuss the history of Pakistan’s nuclear…
S4 · E7 · 27 Mar 2025 · 38 min
Better know a nuke: India
India’s nuclear weapons programme begins with the pre-independence roots of its nuclear ambitions. While India has continuously emphasised the peaceful aspects of nuclear energy, the geopolitical landscape in South Asia has shaped its dual-use trajectory. The border war with China in 1962, followed by China’s nuclear test in 1964, and the increasing alignment between China and Pakistan, were turning points. In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by leading nuclear policy experts Dr Manpreet Sethi and Dr Jayita Sarkar to explore South Asia’s nuclear…
S4 · E6 · 20 Mar 2025 · 30 min
Better know a nuke: Israel
Israel is unique among nuclear-armed states as it neither confirms nor denies its nuclear capability. While Israel’s nuclear ambiguity has shaped its strategic posture for decades, it also raises questions about Israel’s nuclear doctrine and how it fits into Middle Eastern security. Unlike other nuclear powers, Israel began exploring nuclear weapons development before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by leading nuclear policy expert Dr Or Rabinowitz to provide deep insights into the history,…
S4 · E5 · 13 Mar 2025 · 35 min
Better know a nuke: China
China’s nuclear journey began during the Cold War, when Mao Zedong’s leadership saw nuclear weapons as essential to protecting China’s sovereignty. Initially relying on assistance from the Soviet Union, China quickly accelerated its nuclear programme, conducting its first nuclear test in 1964. In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by leading nuclear policy experts Dr Jingdong Yuan, Dr Tong Zhao and Dr Fiona Cunningham to discuss China’s recent ambitious expansions of its nuclear capabilities. This shift is monitored globally and poses the question…
S4 · E4 · 6 Mar 2025 · 40 min
Better know a nuke: France
Since the Cold War, France has charted an independent course in nuclear policy, without relying on external security guarantees. But what makes France’s nuclear strategy different from that of the United States, United Kingdom or Russia? And how does it fit into the European security architecture today? In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Dr Alexander Bollfrass is joined by leading nuclear policy experts Héloïse Fayet, Emmanuelle Maitre and Dr Liviu Horovitz to discuss France’s nuclear programme that began in the shadows of World War II, as French leaders, including Charles de…
S4 · E3 · 27 Feb 2025 · 37 min
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,…
S4 · E2 · 20 Feb 2025 · 34 min
Better know a nuke: The Soviet Union and Russia
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…
S4 · E1 · 13 Feb 2025 · 38 min
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…
S3 · E7 · 12 Dec 2024 · 41 min
Assessing the possibility of Iran going nuclear with David Albright
In the seventh episode of season 3, podcast host Fabian Hinz is joined by David Albright, founder and President of the Institute for Science and International Security to discuss Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Find out more: https://go.iiss.org/4g7jiP1 ‘ The Arms Control Primer ’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 · E6 · 28 Nov 2024 · 1 hr 3 min
The past, present and future of Iran's missile programme with Jim Lamson
In the sixth episode of the Arms Control Poseur, host Fabian Hinz discusses with guest Jim Lamson, Senior Research Associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, the complex developments of Iran's missile programme. ‘ The Arms Control Primer ’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 · E5 · 14 Nov 2024 · 26 min
Technologies to counter the diversion of small arms and light weapons with Sarah Grand-Clément
In this episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Wolf-Christian Paes and Sarah Grand-Clément from the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) explore the impact emerging technologies can have to help counter the diversion of small arms and light weapons. ‘ The Arms Control Primer ’ is a podcast series produced by the IISS Strategy, Technology and Arms Control Programme on behalf of the EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Consortium Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 · E4 · 31 Oct 2024 · 33 min
The regional code of conduct for missiles in the Middle East with Prof Dr Karim El-Baz
In the fourth episode of The Arms Control Poseur, host Timothy Wright and his guest Prof Dr Karim El-Baz explore the complex landscape of missile proliferation in the Middle East. Together, they discuss the historical and strategic foundations that influence state and non-state actors to develop or possess missile capabilities. With the global arms control architecture being increasingly under greater pressure, Prof Dr El-Baz also provides expertise on the potential pathways for transparency and confidence-building measures, despite prevailing regional challenges. This week's guest: Prof Dr…
S3 · E3 · 17 Oct 2024 · 38 min
Nuclear power and proliferation in the Gulf region with Amnah Ibraheem
In the third episode of season 3, podcast host Fabian Hinz is joined by Amnah Ibraheem to discuss the critical developments in missile technology, nuclear energy policies and defence strategies across the Middle East. How does the growing importance of missile systems shape the strategic calculations of regional powers like Iran and Israel, and how do such advancements influence the broader political landscape? Episode three provides impactful insights into critical developments in missile technology, nuclear energy policies and defence strategies across the Middle East. This week's guest:…

About The Arms Control Primer

The Arms Control Primer is a English news podcast from The International Institute for Strategic Studies. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: The International Institute for Strategic Studies
Language: English
Category: News
New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 38 min
Latest episode: 1 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1728088186
Rights: The International Institute for Strategic Studies

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