Adam, Curtis, and Jim address the idea posited in a recent foreign affairs article, "When Nuclear Weapons Fail to Deter." In recent years, the complex role of nuclear weapons in global security and deterrence effectiveness has been tested. The discussion highlights various historical and contemporary examples, including the dynamics between nuclear and non-nuclear states, the stability-instability paradox, and the motivations behind nuclear proliferation. The speakers emphasize the nuanced understanding of nuclear weapons as tools for preventing large-scale conflicts rather than as absolute deterrents against all forms of aggression.

Article: When Nuclear Weapons Fail to Deter | Foreign Affairs

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/united-states/when-nuclear-weapons-fail-deter