HSG Institute, the Munich Security Conference and partners found the European Nuclear Study Group

With the recent increase in global conflicts, this new research group will focus on global nuclear security and hopes to identify relevant changes in the shifting nuclear order for Europe and its transatlantic partners. The inaugural meeting will take place during the 60th Munich Security Conference, which will be held from 15-18 February 2024.

Focus on the effects on Europe

Launched at the Munich Security Conference 2024, the European Nuclear Study Group (ENSG) seeks to bring together scholars and practitioners to focus on the implications of the changing nuclear order for Europe and strategic doctrine, nuclear modernization, arms control, and transatlantic cooperation.

Forced to address a shift in geo-political realities, it is necessary for Europe to review and where necessary, reconceive the requirements for successfully deterring the use of nuclear weapons. 

The ENSG is co-chaired by:

• Prof. James W. Davis, director of the University of St.Gallen‘s Institute of Political Science (IPW-HSG) and chair for International Politics;
• Dr. Tobias Bunde, director of Research and Policy at the MSC and senior researcher at the Hertie School’s Center for International Security; and
• Dr. Claudia Major, head of the Research Division on International Security, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (German Institute for International and Security Affairs), Berlin. 

The inaugural meeting will be chaired by Prof. James Davis, a political scientist with a focus on transatlantic relations, international politics and global security. He stated that, “with the recent increase in global conflicts, the threat of nuclear escalation has returned to the top of the Euro-Atlantic security agenda.” He continued to note that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has brought an end to the comparatively peaceful post-Cold War era and, “In light of Russia’s nuclear saber-rattling and unilateral suspension of New START, the need for Europe to evaluate the status of nuclear deterrence is obvious.” 

Aims of the ENSG over the next year will be to:

• Identify relevant changes in the nuclear threat environment and their implications for strategic doctrine, nuclear modernization, and arms control
• Contribute European ideas and positions to the emerging transatlantic debate on how to tackle the challenges of the new nuclear age
• Foster a strategic community of Europe-based scholars and policymakers working on nuclear issues
• Provide input for nuclear debates

The ENSG will engage over the course of the next year with policymakers and military specialists with the aim of presenting their initial findings at next year’s MSC (Feb. 2025) and delivering a final report later in 2025.

In addition to chairing the inaugural meeting of the ENSG Prof. Davis will again chair the Christian Social Union (CSU)-hosted off-the-record Transatlantic Forum at this year’s MSC, where he will welcome European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as panelists.

Image: James W. Davis