Trust in Nuclear Disarmament Verification

By: Wyn Q. Bowen and Hassan Elbahtimy and Christopher Hobbs and Matthew Moran

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Synopsis: 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. The lines between scientific enquiry and human psychology can become blurred here and outcomes have the potential to be influenced by perceptions. Drawing on extensive empirical evidence, the authors explore the complex interplay between evidence-based judgements and perceptions of intentions that overshadows the science of verification. The book provides new insights into the role and influence of human factors in the verification process and sheds light on the 'blind spot' of verification research. It is an invaluable resource for practitioners, academics and students working in the fields of arms control and disarmament. ns concerning nuclear disarmament.