Nuclear taboo

New Publication: “Hope the Russians Love Their Children Too.” Russian Public Support for the Use of Nuclear Weapons after the Invasion of Ukraine

How do Russians really feel about using nuclear weapons after the invasion of Ukraine? Despite constant threats from the Kremlin and rising global tensions, support for a nuclear strike against NATO has barely shifted. This study from Michal Smetana and Michal Onderčo uncovers why public opinion has stayed so stable.

Research Article: Elite-public gaps in support for nuclear and chemical strikes

In this publication, Michal Smetana, Marek Vranka and Ondřej Rosendorf provide empirical evidence for the hypothesis that there are substantial elite-public gaps in support for the military use of nuclear and chemical weapons. These findings strongly contribute to the ongoing academic debate on the significance of nuclear and chemical weapon ‘taboos’ in global politics.