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National Strategic Research Institute studying strategies to combat nuclear proliferation

Research being done at the University of Nebraska could lead to strategies and recommendations for combating the spread of nuclear weapons.

The National Strategic Research Institute was awarded a contract from STRATCOM to study what’s known as horizontal and vertical nuclear proliferation. Rupal Mehta, an assistant professor of political science at UNL and one of the researchers, says they want to know how the desire of some nations to get nuclear weapons will affect international policy and global politics.

Horizontal proliferation relates to nation-states that don’t have nuclear capabilities, but are developing technology for weapons or acquiring them. Vertical proliferation focuses on nations that already have nuclear weapons and are building a stockpile, or improving technology for future weapons.

NSRI will spend the next year studying nuclear weapons issues, then make recommendations on policy and do a detailed review.