The project focused on the US alliance politics and its dynamics, particularly in thesphere of nuclear policy and reactions to U.S. signals of resolve. The study involved the analysis of the development of the US nuclear policy across time and space, investigating how different states and NATO positioned themselves regarding U.S.security guarantees.
Particularly, the research assessed the argument that strong signals of resolve and nuclear sponsorship can lead to adverse effects in which U.S. allies seek independent nuclear and military capacities. Moreover, using survey research, the project investigated nuclear energy and foreign policy questions in the context of the Russianinvasion of Ukraine.
Under the guidance of Professor Lauren Sukin, I have conducted extensive cross-country literature and archival research, focused on European and NATO’s nuclear policy within the context of U.S. alliance politics. Specifically, I have analysed academic literature, press releases, and official governmental and diplomatic documents in order to investigate the historical and contemporary dynamics of the nuclear policy of Poland, Germany, and France. Notably, my research focused on the evolution of NATO, and the debate of coupling the European and U.S security, especially before and after the Euromissiles crisis.
Moreover, I have assisted Prof. Sukin in the process of survey design and setup by preparing, editing, testing, and translating survey questions in seven languages: German, French, Portuguese, Arabic, Czech, Polish, and Slovak. Working on this aspect of the project, accompanied by weekly consultations with Professor Sukin has provided me with invaluable insight into survey design and methodology.
My work involved the creation of detailed and argument-oriented summaries,translating literature, sourcing published internal diplomatic documents in four languages (English, German, French, and Polish), and referencing and categorizing the research material for further work.
I have analysed primary and secondary sources, received existing literature, and searched and sourced archival materials, relying most notably on The Office of the Historian’s documentary history of U.S. foreign policy. This resource provided an excellent opportunity to study the internal diplomatic communication regarding U.S. alliance politics from the Cold War era. I have also qualitatively analysed press releases and public opinion surveys to track nuclear policy support across time in different states. I translated and transcribed historical speeches, especially of French government officials, in order to synthesise and identify the French nuclear policy positions which have not been outlined in available official documents.
Furthermore, I have used the Qualitrics research software to prepare and set up survey questions, relying on guidelines and documents from other academics collaborating on the project.
I have gathered data on the military policy positions of European states regarding U.S.nuclear guarantees, as well as reactions of decision-makers and public opinion in Europe to U.S. signals of resolve. The data I have collected is intended to assist Professor Sukin in further work on the specific case studies, outlining evidence and materials useful in the analysis of the wider argument regarding conditions in which U.S security guarantees may backfire – by causing fears of military dependence and loss of decision-making power regarding state’s security.
The project addresses the vital question of the conditions under which nuclear guarantees of the U.S. might lead to counterproductive outcomes (backlash), causing fears of a loss of military and political autonomy, especially in the context of international conflict. The research contributes to the discussion by qualitatively analysing policy and strategy shifts through the perspective of reactions of diplomats, government officials, as well as public opinion, to signals of resolve of the nuclear guarantor. Additionally, the surveys prepared as part of the project aim to examine attitudes toward nuclear weapons and nuclear power in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.