Ben Zala
@drbeezee.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer at Monash University, Australia. Work focusses on great power relations and reducing nuclear dangers.
Pinned
Ben Zala
@drbeezee.bsky.social
· Jan 22
The Global Third Nuclear Age: Clashing Visions for a New Era in International Politics
This book provides an in-depth examination of the technological, geopolitical and normative pressures driving the world into a new, more complex and potentially more dangerous Third Nuclear Age.
By ad...
www.routledge.com
Kicking off using this app w/ a new book! The Global Third Nuclear Age is now out & open access. Co-authored w/ a great team (inc. @andrewfutter.bsky.social @olamidediy.bsky.social @ludovicacast.bsky.social @cameronhunter.bsky.social), w/ a forward by Paul Bracken.
www.routledge.com/The-Global-T...
www.routledge.com/The-Global-T...
80 years into the nuclear age and "arms control has all but collapsed while reliable and trusted channels of communication between major nuclear adversaries are virtually non-existent." We're going to need more than luck to survive another 80 years.
theconversation.com/fear-built-t...
theconversation.com/fear-built-t...
Fear built the nuclear bomb – only trust can ensure it is never used again
If the nuclear bomb was born out of fear, then ensuring it is never used again requires replacing fear with trust.
theconversation.com
August 5, 2025 at 9:32 PM
80 years into the nuclear age and "arms control has all but collapsed while reliable and trusted channels of communication between major nuclear adversaries are virtually non-existent." We're going to need more than luck to survive another 80 years.
theconversation.com/fear-built-t...
theconversation.com/fear-built-t...
Great piece by @olamidediy.bsky.social on the implications for the non-proliferation regime of the latest attempt at preventive counterproliferation strikes.
www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...
www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...
The attacks on Iran didn’t achieve anything more than harm nonproliferation
The conclusion many states may now draw is that complying with the NPT is no longer a guarantee of nuclear security.
www.aljazeera.com
July 1, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Great piece by @olamidediy.bsky.social on the implications for the non-proliferation regime of the latest attempt at preventive counterproliferation strikes.
www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...
www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...
After being repeatedly asked about this for the better part of a fortnight, I figured I'd just write it up in one spot. It's not an endorsement of nuclear deterrence, nor a nuclear-armed Iran. But could we live with that outcome? Yep. theconversation.com/could-we-liv...
Could we live with a nuclear-armed Iran? Reluctantly, yes
Both Israel and the US claim a nuclear-armed Iran would pose an existential threat. It wouldn’t. Here’s why.
theconversation.com
June 30, 2025 at 12:41 AM
After being repeatedly asked about this for the better part of a fortnight, I figured I'd just write it up in one spot. It's not an endorsement of nuclear deterrence, nor a nuclear-armed Iran. But could we live with that outcome? Yep. theconversation.com/could-we-liv...
For Australia-based followers, I joined @patskarvelas.bsky.social on Afternoon Briefing yesterday (17/6) to discuss the Israeli strikes against Iran and the likelihood of this counter-proliferation strike leading to the much wider goal of regime change in Tehran: iview.abc.net.au/show/afterno...
Afternoon Briefing
Your daily download of everything you need to know about politics, national and global affairs. Patricia Karvelas asks politicians the tough questions and talks to key players and experts on the issue...
iview.abc.net.au
June 18, 2025 at 12:13 AM
For Australia-based followers, I joined @patskarvelas.bsky.social on Afternoon Briefing yesterday (17/6) to discuss the Israeli strikes against Iran and the likelihood of this counter-proliferation strike leading to the much wider goal of regime change in Tehran: iview.abc.net.au/show/afterno...
I'm the guest for today's episode of the ABC News Daily podcast with Samantha Hawley on "Was Iran Really About to Build a Nuclear Bomb?": www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Was Iran really about to build a nuclear bomb? - ABC listen
Israel has been ramping up pressure on Donald Trump for the US to join its strikes on Iran.
It’s believed that only the US has the bombs that could destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities hidden deep under...
www.abc.net.au
June 18, 2025 at 12:06 AM
I'm the guest for today's episode of the ABC News Daily podcast with Samantha Hawley on "Was Iran Really About to Build a Nuclear Bomb?": www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
My explainer on the Israeli strikes against Iran (including implications for the NPT and wider nonproliferation regime) for @theconversation.com theconversation.com/why-is-there...
Why is there so much concern over Iran’s nuclear program? And where could it go from here?
The latest attacks have come amid growing concern over Iran’s nuclear program, prompting questions over what this means for the global non-proliferation regime.
theconversation.com
June 18, 2025 at 12:01 AM
My explainer on the Israeli strikes against Iran (including implications for the NPT and wider nonproliferation regime) for @theconversation.com theconversation.com/why-is-there...
New ep on "Who Will Shape the Third Nuclear Era?" of the @warontherocks.bsky.social Thinking the Unthinkable pod w/ @nktpnd.bsky.social chatting to yours truly. warontherocks.com/episode/thin...
Who Will Shape the Third Nuclear Era? – War on the Rocks
warontherocks.com
June 12, 2025 at 6:42 AM
New ep on "Who Will Shape the Third Nuclear Era?" of the @warontherocks.bsky.social Thinking the Unthinkable pod w/ @nktpnd.bsky.social chatting to yours truly. warontherocks.com/episode/thin...
Well, look what arrived in the post today - my Third Nuclear Age project merch! @erc.europa.eu It's been an absolute pleasure to have been part of the project since it started. Check out www.thethirdnuclearage.com
April 10, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Well, look what arrived in the post today - my Third Nuclear Age project merch! @erc.europa.eu It's been an absolute pleasure to have been part of the project since it started. Check out www.thethirdnuclearage.com
Really glad to have an article in this excellent special issue. Mine, with @andrewfutter.bsky.social, is on "The Return of Nuclear Great Power Politics (or why we stopped worrying about terrorists and the bomb)" www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
March 19, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Really glad to have an article in this excellent special issue. Mine, with @andrewfutter.bsky.social, is on "The Return of Nuclear Great Power Politics (or why we stopped worrying about terrorists and the bomb)" www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Both a very narrow reading of 19th century great power politics and a very generous reading of the Trump Admin's foreign policy.
A Trumpian foreign policy would be a return to the great power competition and balance of power that prevailed between states in the 19th century. That might not be entirely bad for India.
India and the New Trumpian World Order
The new world order would not disadvantage India. On the contrary, it would do well in a Trumpian world.
buff.ly
February 17, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Both a very narrow reading of 19th century great power politics and a very generous reading of the Trump Admin's foreign policy.
Good piece on the likelihood of a return to great power tacit collusion. However, big difference b/n Ukraine & Taiwan on the one hand and Greenland on the other given what a sphere in each does for Russia, China & the US. Greenland is the odd one out. www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianou...
A New Trend in Geopolitics? Great Power Coordination in the Expansion of Spheres of Influence - Australian Institute of International Affairs
www.internationalaffairs.org.au
February 17, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Good piece on the likelihood of a return to great power tacit collusion. However, big difference b/n Ukraine & Taiwan on the one hand and Greenland on the other given what a sphere in each does for Russia, China & the US. Greenland is the odd one out. www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianou...
Excellent summary both of where things are at on strategic arms control and how we got here (via @ucsusa.bsky.social): blog.ucsusa.org/tara-drozden...
The Clock Is Ticking on New START Expiration—and a Nuclear Arms Race
Allowing the New START treaty between Russia and the United States to expire in 2026 could lead to an unconstrained race for nuclear weapons around the world.
blog.ucsusa.org
February 10, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Excellent summary both of where things are at on strategic arms control and how we got here (via @ucsusa.bsky.social): blog.ucsusa.org/tara-drozden...
One of the more significant military developments in Asia over the last year.
Philippine soldiers will train on the U.S. military’s intermediate-range Typhon missile system during army drills next month.
Philippine Troops to Train With US Missile System Next Month, Army Says
The Typhon intermediate-range missile system has been present in the country since join military drills in April 2024.
buff.ly
January 30, 2025 at 10:28 AM
One of the more significant military developments in Asia over the last year.
Trump's #IronDome executive order on missile defence proves what those of us who have consistently opposed any missile defence always knew: That promises of a "limited" system were just that - promises. Stability between nuclear-armed great powers can never rest only on unilateral promises. 1/4
January 28, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Trump's #IronDome executive order on missile defence proves what those of us who have consistently opposed any missile defence always knew: That promises of a "limited" system were just that - promises. Stability between nuclear-armed great powers can never rest only on unilateral promises. 1/4
No idea who the old guy on the right is.
January 24, 2025 at 3:02 AM
No idea who the old guy on the right is.
Kicking off using this app w/ a new book! The Global Third Nuclear Age is now out & open access. Co-authored w/ a great team (inc. @andrewfutter.bsky.social @olamidediy.bsky.social @ludovicacast.bsky.social @cameronhunter.bsky.social), w/ a forward by Paul Bracken.
www.routledge.com/The-Global-T...
www.routledge.com/The-Global-T...
The Global Third Nuclear Age: Clashing Visions for a New Era in International Politics
This book provides an in-depth examination of the technological, geopolitical and normative pressures driving the world into a new, more complex and potentially more dangerous Third Nuclear Age.
By ad...
www.routledge.com
January 22, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Kicking off using this app w/ a new book! The Global Third Nuclear Age is now out & open access. Co-authored w/ a great team (inc. @andrewfutter.bsky.social @olamidediy.bsky.social @ludovicacast.bsky.social @cameronhunter.bsky.social), w/ a forward by Paul Bracken.
www.routledge.com/The-Global-T...
www.routledge.com/The-Global-T...