Cooperation

Cooperation

The Manhattan Project that led to the construction and use of the first atomic bombs was a highly cooperative project. Thousands of people participated. Large funds were invested and almost all Americans contributed - albight unknowingly - through their taxes. It was a vivid example of exclusionary, hostile cooperation. The logic of the enterprise was military victory against an enemy. All subsequent nuclear production in all countries maintained the same posture. Highly cooperative, secret and self-contained cooperative systems were created to produce, maintain and possibly use highly destructive weaponry.

Contrary to this adversarial approach, all nuclear disarmament initiatives, both successful and unsuccessful, lasting or simply attempted, have been the result of inclusive, emerging cooperation. So far there is no case of forced nuclear disarmament. Yet, several countries - while maintaining a distrustful and competitive approach - have been able to negotiate, implement and verify agreements that allowed significant reductions of nuclear weapons.

CNDSI works cooperatively with other AC4 initiatives, especially the Environment, Peace, and Sustainability (EPS) program, the Sustaining Peace Project and the Sustainability Engagement and Global Outreach Hub.