IcansEdit

Icans are supporters of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), a global civil-society network that has been influential in reframing how the world talks about nuclear weapons. Founded in 2007, ICAN pooled a wide range of humanitarian and disarmament advocates into a single voice focused on the humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and the goal of prohibitively banning them. In 2017, ICAN helped bring national and international attention to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which multiple states subsequently joined, and the organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work. Icans are not a monolith, but they share a common belief that nuclear weapons pose an unacceptable risk to civilian populations and that disarmament is both a moral imperative and a practical security prescription in the long run. International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons nuclear weapons Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Nobel Prize

From a conservative-leaning security perspective, the Icans are often praised for foregrounding humanitarian concerns and for helping to elevate norms against the use of nuclear weapons. At the same time, many who emphasize deterrence, alliance commitments, and robust defense capabilities worry that a legal ban or rapid disarmament could undermine credible deterrence, strain alliances, or leave states exposed to aggression by those who do not uphold disarmament norms. The core argument is not that moral concerns about civilian harm are illegitimate, but that any path to abolition must be reconcilable with verifiable disarmament, regional stability, and the practical realities of great-power competition. nonproliferation deterrence theory Arms control NPT United States Russia China

Origins and goals - The Icans emerged from a broad humanitarian-disarmament ecosystem that brings together scientists, faith-based groups, human rights advocates, and former policymakers. The overarching goal is to stigmatize and ultimately remove nuclear weapons from national arsenals and state plans. The TPNW, adopted by the United Nations in 2017 and entering into force in 2021, represents the legal capstone of that effort, prohibiting development, production, stockpiling, transfer, use, and threat of use of nuclear weapons, and it obligates states to cooperate in disarmament and to assist victims of nuclear weapons use and testing. ICAN’s advocacy helped mobilize civil society around these norms and encouraged governments to pursue disarmament measures, including negotiations and national policies aligned with nonproliferation goals. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons NPT nonproliferation Nobel Prize

Policy positions and philosophy - Nonproliferation as baseline: Icans emphasize preventing spread and use of nuclear weapons as integral to global security. They argue that even a single nuclear use would produce catastrophic humanitarian consequences and destabilize regional security architectures. The emphasis is on norms, stigma, and legal prohibitions as complements to deterrence. nuclear weapons nonproliferation Deterrence theory - Norms over force: The movement trades on the idea that strong international norms against nuclear weapons can reduce incentives for states to hide or deploy them, and that moral suasion can mobilize civil society and governments to pursue disarmament. From a practical-security view, this must be balanced with credible deterrence and robust allied defenses to deter aggression during the transition to a world with fewer or no nuclear weapons. moral philosophy Arms control - Verification and transition: A recurring conservative critique is that abolition relies on verifiable, enforceable measures that can withstand the pressures of geopolitics. Critics caution that verification regimes must be credible and resistant to evasion, and that a phased approach may be necessary to avoid sudden strategic vacuums that could invite counterproliferation or regional arms races. Icans generally argue that verifiable disarmament is achievable with the right international institutions and transparency, but skeptics note the practical hurdles involved. verification Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons NPT

Controversies and debates - Viability versus ideals: A central debate concerns whether a complete ban is realistic given the security environments in which major powers operate. Supporters argue that abolition is ultimately necessary to prevent humanitarian catastrophe, while critics contend that without universal participation by all nuclear states, a ban will have little practical effect and could undermine deterrence and alliance solidarity. NPT United States Russia China United Kingdom France India Pakistan Israel North Korea - Widespread participation and legitimacy: The TPNW has been praised for promoting norms and stigmatization of nuclear weapons, but its legitimacy is contested by nuclear-armed states and traditional nonproliferation advocates who did not join. This has raised questions about how effectively the treaty can translate into real-world disarmament without broad bipartisan and international backing. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons NPT - Woke criticisms and counterpoints: Critics on the right argue that some contemporary debates around weapons policy overly emphasize moralizing narratives and rhetorical signaling (“woke” critiques) at the expense of practical security concerns, such as deterrence credibility and alliance commitments. They contend that humanitarian arguments are important but must be grounded in strategic stability, and that disarmament must be paired with verifiable safeguards and robust defenses to deter aggression. Supporters of Icans might acknowledge the value of humanitarian concern while insisting that security realities—deterrence, allied cohesion, and credible defense capabilities—must guide any transition. The gist of the critique is that moral framing alone cannot substitute for the hard realities of 21st-century geopolitics; conversely, critics of the hard-headed view warn against allowing moral arguments to justify inaction on disarmament or humanitarian protection. nuclear weapons humanitarian disarmament

Global impact and reception - Norms and diplomacy: Icans have helped shift the international conversation toward humanitarian consequences and legal prohibitions, influencing some states to reassess their own policies and to pursue steps toward disarmament or transparency. Their work intersected with broader nonproliferation efforts and has shaped how international organizations and national governments frame nuclear risk. International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Nobel Prize United Nations - Limitations and scope: The practical impact of the ICAN-led agenda is tempered by the ongoing reality that many major nuclear powers remain outside the TPNW framework and continue to argue that disarmament must occur within the context of the NPT and ongoing strategic deterrence. This has led to a nuanced view among statesmen who support nonproliferation norms but resist rapid or unconditional disarmament. NPT United States Russia China

See also - Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons - Non-Proliferation Treaty - Nuclear weapons - Arms control - Deterrence theory - International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons - Nobel Prize