We set out to discuss recent articles in the Orbis Journal of World Affairs by Lowell – a return guest on the Strategic Simplicity Podcast – and Austin Long. Each author raised different aspects of nuclear competition in their articles, with Lowell focusing on the possible “nuclear relationships” the United States may choose with Russia and China, and the impacts that may have nuclear forces and arms control policy. Austin’s article – shockingly – reviews Cold War superpower relations with a particular focus on the role technology played in the o.g. arms competition, and the new technologies that may play a role in the competition of today and tomorrow. We strayed into a wide ranging conversation about all things that are relevant to nuclear policy and arms control – grand strategy, bureaucratic prioritization, nuclear strategy – and Vipin barely got a word in edge-wise. Both authors end the podcast with the questions that preoccupy their minds after going through the writing process – hopefully a useful takeaway from students and young professionals subscribing to this pod.

Lowell’s article Orbis.

Austin’s as well.

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Intro/outro music licensed by Soundstripe: “The Iron Curtain” by Wicked Cinema.

Recording and edits through Riverside.fm.

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