June 28, 2025

Is Nuclear Proliferation Inevitable? | Samo Burja

1 hour 3 minutes

Today on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg talk with Samo Burja on nuclear weapons proliferation, energy geopolitics, and his "nuclear accelerationist" argument that widespread nuclear capability is inevitable, so countries should pursue abundant nuclear energy despite proliferation risks.

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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DISCUSSION:

Core Argument: "Nuclear Accelerationism"

Nuclear weapons proliferation is inevitable - the 80-year-old technology is only getting easier

We're paying security costs without reaping energy benefits

Should accelerate civilian nuclear development to achieve energy abundance

North Korea precedent: Even poor, isolated countries can build nukes

Japan example: Already has tons of plutonium, could build weapons in <1 year

Proliferation ratchet: Countries rarely denuclearize once they acquire weapons

National security incentives overwhelm nonproliferation efforts

Nuclear club expansion: Countries with existing weapons should build thousands of reactors

Energy exports: Non-nuclear countries buy electricity from nuclear neighbors

Scale economics: Need massive reactor deployment for true cost advantages

Incentive structure: Subsidize alternatives for countries that forgo nuclear tech

Small arsenals (dozens of nukes) create different dynamics than superpower stockpiles (thousands)

Current "doomsday machine" logic only applies to US/Russia/China

Widespread small arsenals might actually reduce conventional war risk

...more

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By Erik Torenberg, Dan Romero, Antonio Garcia Martinez

4.1

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