Today on Moment of Zen, Erik Torenberg talk with Samo Burja on nuclear weapons proliferation, energy geopolitics, and his "nuclear accelerationist" argument that widespread nuclear capability is inevitable, so countries should pursue abundant nuclear energy despite proliferation risks.
Make sure to subscribe to Samo Burja's Bismarck Brief and the Live Players podcast to read analyses and briefs like this one:
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DISCUSSION:
Core Argument: "Nuclear Accelerationism"
- Nuclear weapons proliferation is inevitable - the 80-year-old technology is only getting easier
- We're paying security costs without reaping energy benefits
- Should accelerate civilian nuclear development to achieve energy abundance
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North Korea precedent: Even poor, isolated countries can build nukes
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Japan example: Already has tons of plutonium, could build weapons in <1 year
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Proliferation ratchet: Countries rarely denuclearize once they acquire weapons
- National security incentives overwhelm nonproliferation efforts
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Nuclear club expansion: Countries with existing weapons should build thousands of reactors
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Energy exports: Non-nuclear countries buy electricity from nuclear neighbors
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Scale economics: Need massive reactor deployment for true cost advantages
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Incentive structure: Subsidize alternatives for countries that forgo nuclear tech
- Small arsenals (dozens of nukes) create different dynamics than superpower stockpiles (thousands)
- Current "doomsday machine" logic only applies to US/Russia/China
- Widespread small arsenals might actually reduce conventional war risk
