Shadow Wars in the Shadow of the Bomb
The Link Between Nuclear Weapons and Indirect Conflict
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10071700 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kyle Atwell (0000-0001-5572-2308, Irregular Warfare Initiative), David C Logan (0000-0002-3158-8607, Tufts University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 70 |
| Issue | 7-8 |
| Pages | 1123-1151 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-07 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Conflict Resolution (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0022-0027 • E-ISSN: 1552-8766 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/00220027261421160 |
| OpenAlex | W7128368536 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 52 |
How do nuclear weapons affect interstate conflict? Empirical studies on this question have returned mixed results. We argue that these results are due to overlooking indirect conflicts, a distinct and prominent form of limited conflict. Expanding current datasets to account for both conflict intensity and directness provides new insights about interstate conflict. We investigate the relationship between nuclear weapons and conflict through a large-n analysis that includes a new indicator for indirect conflict. We find that state dyads which possess nuclear weapons are significantly more likely to engage in indirect conflict. The results suggest the importance of including measures of indirect conflict in future scholarship and the need for policymakers to prepare for increased instances of indirect conflict between major powers possessing nuclear weapons
Affect (linguistics · International conflict · Nuclear proliferation · Nuclear weapon · Scholarship · Shadow (psychology · State (computer science · Economic Sanctions and International Relations · International Relations and Foreign Policy · Nuclear Issues and Defense
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| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |