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Indian-origin MIT researcher identifies strategies to curb nuclear proliferation
Singh critiques what he calls a "binary trap" in academic discourse, where counterproliferation efforts are often limited to “military attack or no military attack, economic sanctions or no sanctions.”
Kunal Singh / Image- Kunal Singh
An Indian-origin doctoral researcher in security studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has identified a range of counterproliferation strategies that he believes could help countries more effectively deter the spread of nuclear weapons.
Kunal Singh’s research, focused on nuclear deterrence and South Asian security, moves beyond the conventional approach of sanctions or military action and proposes a set of nuanced options that he hopes will aid policymakers in addressing complex nuclear security challenges.
Singh critiques what he calls a "binary trap" in academic discourse, where counterproliferation efforts are often limited to “military attack or no military attack, economic sanctions or no sanctions.”
His analysis is rooted in both historical and recent cases, such as Israel’s airstrikes on nuclear reactors in Iraq (1981) and Syria (2007). "Israel’s unique position, surrounded by hostile powers, drives its military approach to counter nuclear threats," Singh notes, adding that most nations rely on diplomatic methods as a primary strategy before escalating to force.
Singh, a former journalist with Hindustan Times in India, is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur. He shifted his focus to nuclear security research after writing on security issues, ultimately joining MIT to expand his academic expertise.
His current research challenges prevailing notions in the field, highlighting five distinct strategies that include “kinetic reversion,” such as Israel’s direct strikes, “military coercion,” which involves the threat of moderate force, and “diplomatic inhibition,” leveraging economic sanctions to dissuade nuclear pursuits.
Singh’s findings also include "pooled prevention," where states unite in applying economic and military pressure, and "accommodation," a more restrained approach where nations accept a proliferator’s nuclear development without intervention, as seen when the U.S. decided not to take military action against China’s nuclear program.
His work provides insights into the global nuclear debate, where some argue that nuclear deterrence stabilizes international relations, while others contend that nuclear expansion poses constant risks. Singh notes, "While states are concerned about nuclear proliferation, they’re often unwilling to destabilize the current world order to prevent potential future threats."
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