Trust in Nuclear Disarmament Verification

This book explores how human factors, in particular the contested notion of trust, influence the conduct and practice of arms control verification. In the nuclear arena, disarmament verification is often viewed purely in terms of a dispassionate, scientific process. Yet this view is fundamentally flawed since the technical impossibility of 100 per cent verification opens the door to a host of complex issues and questions regarding the process and its outcomes. Central among these is the fact that those involved in any verification inspection process must inevitably conduct their work in a space that falls well short of absolute certainty. Drawing on extensive empirical evidence, the authors explore the complex interplay between evidence-based judgements and perceptions of intentions that frames the science of verification. The book provides new insights into the role and influence of human factors in the verification process, shedding light on this 'blind spot' of verification research. It is an invaluable resource for practitioners, academics and students working in arms control and disarmament.

Introduction.- Chapter 1: Verification in the Nuclear Arena: Nature, Significance and Practice.- Chapter 2: Verifying Nuclear Warhead Dismantlement.- Chapter 3: Trust, Confidence and the Human Side of Verification.- Chapter 4: Trust and Verify?.- Chapter 5: Trust and Verification: Empirical Insights.- Conclusion: Looking to the Future