Ludovica Castelli, PhD
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ludovicacast.bsky.social
Ludovica Castelli, PhD
@ludovicacast.bsky.social
200 followers 110 following 19 posts
Project Manager, Nonproliferation and Disarmament at @IAI | Prev @ThirdNuclearAge @Marshall_Center | About metaphors, nuclear history, Middle East, and Fujifilm
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ludovicacast.bsky.social
🗞️Call for Articles: Special Issue on Nuclear Security

@alialkis.bsky.social and I are seeking proposals for a special issue on "Rethinking Nuclear Security in an Era of Renewed Geopolitical Competition and Technological Change."

Deadline: Sept 15, 2025.
August 8, 2025 at 1:50 PM
ludovicacast.bsky.social
Wish I could relate to the excitement around war porn—but I can’t. Beyond the Tom Clancy spectacle, these attacks are framed as decisive blows: strength demonstrated, deterrence reasserted, technological superiority confirmed. 1/🧵
June 24, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Reposted by Ludovica Castelli, PhD
ecprtheloop.bsky.social
☢️ #NuclearPoliticsParadox No.10
🏭 @ludovicacast.bsky.social explores the longstanding problem of how to protect #NuclearFacilities against attacks, particularly in light of the #WarInUkraine and rising tensions in the #MiddleEast.
#Israel #Iran
👉 bit.ly/43OBb1j
☢️ How can we protect nuclear facilities?
Ludovica Castelli explores the longstanding problem of how to protect nuclear facilities against attack — particularly in light of the war in Ukraine and rising tensions in the Middle East. Until we e...
bit.ly
June 17, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Reposted by Ludovica Castelli, PhD
iaionline.bsky.social
President Trump’s self-imposed deadline for a new Iran nuclear deal is about to expire, amid growing indications that the negotiations may collapse.

Check out a new #IAICommentary by @ric-alcaro.bsky.social & @ludovicacast.bsky.social ➡️ www.iai.it/en/node/20192

Some key points 🧵
June 12, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Reposted by Ludovica Castelli, PhD
mybisa.bsky.social
📚Latest in IR Spring Book round up released by BISA members📚

🌟 Inc: 🌟
@elgarpublishing.bsky.social @springernature.com @oxunipress.bsky.social‬ @andrewfutter.bsky.social‬ @ludovicacast.bsky.social‬ @cameronhunter.bsky.social‬
‪@joedevanny.bsky.social‬

find out more 👉 buff.ly/s7yUWdk
The latest in IR - spring book round up
Each quarter we bring you updates on the latest book releases from BISA members.
buff.ly
June 5, 2025 at 10:01 AM
ludovicacast.bsky.social
Language matters in diplomacy—not only as a tool of persuasion, but as a reflection of power asymmetries, historical memory, domestic legitimacy. When it comes to nuclear diplomacy, where power asymmetries are striking, language particularly matters.

My latest for:
www.stimson.org/2025/languag...
Language, Memory, and the Fragility of US–Iran Nuclear Diplomacy • Stimson Center
For Iran, invoking the ‘Libya model’ brings complex dynamics to the forefront as Tehran weighs the risks of trusting and compromising with Western actors.
www.stimson.org
April 18, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Reposted by Ludovica Castelli, PhD
ecprtheloop.bsky.social
🆕 Loop series ☢️ #NuclearPoliticsParadox launched today.
✍🏽 In coming weeks, contributors inc. @megandee.bsky.social @marenvieluf.bsky.social @ludovicacast.bsky.social @susmonika.bsky.social and @carolinapanico.bsky.social will offer perspectives on the nuclear debate
theloop.ecpr.eu/tag/nuclear-...
April 16, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Reposted by Ludovica Castelli, PhD
lkrozen.bsky.social
New: ‘Great.’ US envoy appears to respond to Iran FM tweet asserting Iran will never pursue nukes

open.substack.com/pub/diplomat...
‘Great.’ US envoy appears to respond to Iran FM tweet Iran will never pursue nukes
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff appeared to respond positively to the tweet by the Iranian diplomat, but later deleted it. The exchange came after an exchange of letters between Trump & Iran.
open.substack.com
April 3, 2025 at 2:15 AM
ludovicacast.bsky.social
Personal news - Last week, I submitted my PhD thesis and wrapped up 3.5 incredible years with the @ThirdNuclearAge
project.

Today marks my first day as a Research Fellow in the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Programme at @iaionline.bsky.social. Looking forward to this next chapter!
April 1, 2025 at 5:06 PM
ludovicacast.bsky.social
🎉 We're excited to share that the CfA for the Nuclear History Summer Camp 2025 is out!

📅 Sept 6-16, 2025 |📍Hiroshima, Japan
🎓 Open to Ph.D. students, postdocs, and M.A. graduates
💰 Fully funded
📝 Apply by April 15 at wilsoncenter.org/article/call...

FMI 👉nuclearhistorysc@gmail.com
March 19, 2025 at 3:18 PM
ludovicacast.bsky.social
Last Friday, we launched The Global Third Nuclear Age: Clashing Visions for a New Era in International Politics in the historic library of @rusi.bsky.social.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us! If you haven’t already, grab your copy – it’s open access!
www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-mon...
March 17, 2025 at 11:14 AM
ludovicacast.bsky.social
Wrapping up my last formal PhD meeting with my supervisors today—feeling a bit nostalgic, but also incredibly proud of this work.
February 27, 2025 at 4:26 PM
ludovicacast.bsky.social
Re-sharing this article co-authored with @olamidediy.bsky.social .
On Feb 13-14, a Russian UAV hit the NSC at #Chornobyl. Meanwhile, Israeli officials continue to discuss strikes on Iran’s #nuclear infrastructure - possibly with US support.

t.co/4OFOZ80itx
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10736700.2024.2301883?scroll=top&needAccess=true
t.co
February 15, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Reposted by Ludovica Castelli, PhD
gbrumfiel.bsky.social
Inside a chaotic 48 hours of firings and rehirings at the agency responsible for maintaining the the nation's stockpile of nuclear weapons.

Managers were given 200 characters (not words) to justify why staff shouldn't be fired.

www.npr.org/2025/02/14/n...
Trump firings cause chaos at agency responsible for America's nuclear weapons
The National Nuclear Security Administration is a semi-autonomous agency within the Department of Energy that oversees the U.S. stockpile of thousands of nuclear weapons. Officials were given hours to...
www.npr.org
February 15, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Reposted by Ludovica Castelli, PhD
drbeezee.bsky.social
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...
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
ludovicacast.bsky.social
Excited to share that our new book, "The Global Third Nuclear Age: Clashing Visions for a New Era in International Politics", is now available open access! 🎉 Looking forward to the discussions it sparks!
andrewfutter.bsky.social Andrew Futter @andrewfutter.bsky.social · Jan 9
Absolutely delighted that our new team book: “The Global Third Nuclear Age: Clashing Visions for a New Era in International Politics” is now available open access. Thanks to all those who contributed to the research:
www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-mon...
The Global Third Nuclear Age | Clashing Visions for a New Era in Inter
This book provides an in-depth examination of the technological, geopolitical and normative pressures driving the world into a new, more complex and potentially
www.taylorfrancis.com
January 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Reposted by Ludovica Castelli, PhD
yarbatman.bsky.social
1. A perplexing essay from @richardmnephew.bsky.social.

He points out the risks inherent to military strikes on Iran's nuclear program and suggests diplomacy is a better path.

But then he notes talks may fail, and argues that "extreme steps" must be considered, including military action...
January 7, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Reposted by Ludovica Castelli, PhD
uupeace.bsky.social
Ludovica Castelli is an expert on the history of nuclear weapons in the Middle East. In the latest episode of our podcast Researching Peace, Ludovica takes us on a fascinating journey through nuclear politics in the region and offers her take on recent events. 👉
open.spotify.com/episode/6tv2...
December 9, 2024 at 2:23 PM
Reposted by Ludovica Castelli, PhD
nicholasgrossman.bsky.social
Western Assad apologists were some of the worst people online.

Go to bat for authoritarian repression and deliberate violence against civilians, even deny well documented chemical weapons use.

Highlighted anti-war v. reflexively anti-US/West. Tankies. Horseshoe leftists. Tulsi Gabbard. The worst.
December 8, 2024 at 1:12 PM
Reposted by Ludovica Castelli, PhD
ebrewer.bsky.social
Worth recalling how little we know about Syria’s former nuclear weapons effort. Whoever rules Syria next stands to inherit whatever documents the Assad regime retained (and let’s hope that’s all it is) assuming they haven’t been/won’t be destroyed.
December 7, 2024 at 7:34 PM
Reposted by Ludovica Castelli, PhD
nukestrat.bsky.social
“Iran to begin enriching uranium with thousands of advanced centrifuges, UN watchdog says.” apnews.com/article/iran...

Important context: IAEA said Iran enriching uranium with new centrifuges to 5%, far lower than the 60% it currently does, and far below weapons-grade.
Iran to begin enriching uranium with thousands of advanced centrifuges, UN watchdog says
Iran will begin enriching uranium with thousands of advanced centrifuges at its two main nuclear facilities at Fordo and Natanz.
apnews.com
December 3, 2024 at 6:13 PM
Reposted by Ludovica Castelli, PhD
nicolegrajewski.bsky.social
Yesterday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi threatened to withdraw from the NPT if the E3 triggers the JCPOA snapback.

What does this mean and what can states do about it? @jamiekwong.bsky.social
and I have some ideas in @warontherocks.bsky.social
warontherocks.com/2024/11/will...
Will Iran Withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty? - War on the Rocks
The longstanding shadow conflict between Iran and Israel has entered a new, more dangerous phase of open confrontation. For decades, both nations engaged
warontherocks.com
November 23, 2024 at 5:07 PM
ludovicacast.bsky.social
Thrilled to see that our article, 'Justifying Attacks on Nuclear Facilities' (with @olamidediy.bsky.social), made it to the Recommended Reads list of the Center for Global Security Research at LLNL!

Grateful for this recognition and for the ongoing discussions around this important topic.
November 20, 2024 at 12:37 PM
Reposted by Ludovica Castelli, PhD
rhyscrilley.bsky.social
Are you an early career scholar/practitioner interested in researching and having impact in nuclear arms control and disarmament?

If so, apply now for the Atomic Anxiety in the New Nuclear Age 2025 Fellows Scheme. #NukeSky

atomicanxiety.com/2024/11/14/2...
2025 Fellows Scheme Applications Now Open!
Are you interested in researching and having impact in nuclear arms control and disarmament? Do you want to join a community of scholars and practitioners exploring innovative ideas in the field of…
atomicanxiety.com
November 18, 2024 at 3:52 PM