Research at CISAC

Much of CISAC's work is organized around formal research projects, while some is the product of individual researchers. The Center's research and track-two diplomacy programs address three broad areas of concern, often with important overlaps: nuclear weapons policy, proliferation, and regional tensions; homeland security issues; and more effective global engagement.

CISAC Programs & Research Areas

Ballistic Missile Defense Technology and Policy
Missile defense capabilities play a key role in regional and international security issues. CISAC researchers apply technical and political expertise to studying missile defense systems and their impacts on regional and global security relationships.

Chemical and Biological Weapons Proliferation and Terrorism
CISAC scholars work with colleagues at Stanford and other institutes to address the threat of chemical and biological weapons (CBW) proliferation and the potential use of these weapons by terrorists.

Homeland Security and Counterterrorism
CISAC's homeland security research fellowships and seminars focus on discovering how emergency-response organizations from local to federal levels can best learn from terrorist attacks, other emergencies and exercises, and adapt to meet future security needs.

Nuclear Weapons Safety and Security
Controlling nuclear weapons and the means to make them is essential to keeping the most deadly weapons from reaching terrorists. CISAC researchers work to find ways of improving the safety and security of existing weapons and to secure the materials and technology for making new weapons.

Preventing Nuclear Proliferation and Terrorism
The continuing spread of nuclear weapons poses distinctive threats to international security. CISAC researchers are seeking ways to strengthen the nuclear nonproliferation regime and prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to more countries or to terrorists.

Research Projects

» Deadly Connections

» Managing Global Insecurity

» Preventive Defense Project

» Project on Peace and Cooperation in the Asian-Pacific Region

» Strengthening Security and Stability in South Asia