In response to a French op-ed, this Focus Paper critically examines recent calls for a public democratic debate on the military use of nuclear weapons. The authors argue that, while the impulse to democratise nuclear policy may stem from a legitimate desire for transparency and accountability, it fundamentally misinterprets the nature of nuclear deterrence and its strategic imperatives. The paper highlights the irreducible tension between democratic deliberation and the operational logic of deterrence, which demands secrecy, speed and centralised decision-making.
The authors demonstrate that nuclear deterrence, far from being an arbitrary or outdated relic, continues to function as a stabilising force amid global insecurity. They also refute binary narratives that pit ‘realists’ against ‘idealists’, advocating instead for a nuanced, informed understanding of nuclear policy grounded in strategic realism. Ultimately, they caution that misframing the debate could undermine the credibility of deterrence, with potentially dangerous consequences in today’s volatile geopolitical context.
Rather than seeking to ‘democratise’ nuclear weapons policy in simplistic terms, the paper calls for a lucid reflection on its legitimacy, limits and conditions for eventually transcending this debate.
(Only available in French)
Research lines: Defence capabilities and technologies; Threats, challenges and strategic responses; Security and defence architecture
Source image : Marine nationale (France) (sous-marins nucléaires lanceurs d’engins (SNLE))
Focus Paper 52
Débat démocratique sur l’arme nucléaire :
une illusion dangereuse