Articles by Sterre Van Buuren

September 16, 2025

☢️ The democratic cost of nuclear weapons

Sterre Van Buuren

Nuclear weapons come with a hidden cost: they erode democracy. In every nuclear state, secrecy, executive powers and stifled debate cut the public off from their government’s nuclear decision-making. Sterre van Buuren explains why this is – and why citizens must still push for more accountability

Sterre Van Buuren

Research Assistant, Nuclear Knowledges Programme, Centre des Recherches Internationales, Sciences Po, Paris

Prior to her current role, Sterre was a research fellow at The Streit Council.

Her primary research interests revolve around the domestic politics of nuclear weapons, in particular their relationship to democracy.

She has also worked on the intersections between nuclear weapons and climate change.

Sterre holds a Master's in International Security from the Paris School of International Affairs (Sciences Po).

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