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Unit 13Compliance and Enforcement
All chapters
  1. 1. Concepts related to compliance and enforcement
  2. 2. International norms, compliance and enforcement
  3. 3. Institutions and tools relevant for compliance and enforcement
  4. 4. The role of national and international courts in compliance and enforcement
  5. 5. The role of the EU in compliance with and enforcement of non-proliferation and disarmament agreements
  6. 6. Reflections and outlook
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Above: IAEA experts visiting TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station on 27 November 2013 looked at the fuel assembly removal process in Reactor Unit 4.

Greg Webb/IAEA, CC BY-SA 2.0

Compliance and Enforcement

How do countries ensure compliance with arms control agreements? This unit dives into the complexities of compliance, enforcement, verification, and international norms. The unit features real-world case studies and examines legal and political challenges related to arms control. It also explores global security dynamics and the role of institutions in ensuring compliance.

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Chapters

  1. 1. Concepts related to compliance and enforcement

  2. 2. International norms, compliance and enforcement

  3. 3. Institutions and tools relevant for compliance and enforcement

  4. 4. The role of national and international courts in compliance and enforcement

  5. 5. The role of the EU in compliance with and enforcement of non-proliferation and disarmament agreements

  6. 6. Reflections and outlook

Learning Objectives

Learning objectives

In this unit, students will explore the key concepts of compliance, enforcement, and verification in international arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation agreements. They will examine why states comply with treaties, the role of international norms, and the challenges of enforcement. Through case studies, students will assess real-world compliance mechanisms, sanctions, and legal frameworks. By engaging with political, legal, and technical perspectives, students will develop critical thinking, analytical, and research skills. They will also enhance their understanding of international governance structures and the role of institutions such as the UN and treaty organizations in maintaining global security.

Credits

  • Elisabeth Hoffberger-Pippan profile image

    Elisabeth Hoffberger-Pippan

    Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF)

    Elisabeth Hoffberger-Pippan is a senior researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF). She holds a PhD in Law from the University of Linz, Austria. Her main research areas include arms control, humanitarian law, and human rights, focusing on biological and chemical weapons as well as emerging technologies in armed conflict.

  • Una Jakob profile image

    Una Jakob

    Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF)

    Una Jakob is a senior researcher and head of the research group Biological and Chemical Disarmament and Security at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF). She holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Frankfurt, Germany. Her research interests include biological and chemical weapons disarmament and non-proliferation, international norms, the BWC and CWC, biosecurity, and the governance of emerging technologies and dual-use research in the life sciences.

  • Veronika Klymova profile image

    Veronika Klymova

    Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF)

    Veronika Klymova is a Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt. She is a doctoral candidate in Political Science at the University of Frankfurt, Germany. She holds an MA in International Relations/Political Science from the Geneva Graduate Institute, Switzerland and master’s degrees in International Development and in Psychology. Her main research interests include international norms against biological and chemical weapons, AI governance and moral psychology.

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Disclosures

Content Warning

This learning unit may contain audio-visual material or texts, which may not be suitable for all audiences.

Funding

This Learning Unit was produced with financial assistance from the European Union. The contents of this Learning Unit are however the sole responsibility of the author(s) and should under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

External Links

The site may contain hyperlink text references (’Links’) to other sites that are offered by third parties. These Links are made available solely for the purpose of information and as an additional service for users. Only the respective operator is responsible for all content and statements on linked Internet sites. Therefore, PRIF cannot guarantee the correctness and accuracy or any other aspect of third party sites.

Preferred Citation

Elisabeth Hoffberger-Pippan, Una Jakob and Veronika Klymova, "Compliance and Enforcement" in EUNPDC eLearning, ed. Niklas Schörnig, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt. Available at https://eunpdc-elearning.netlify.app/lu-13/, last modified 5 May 2025

Editorial Note

This is a beta version of the learning unit, which is regularly optimised. Please report any factual errors or discrepancies to the publisher. (support(at)nonproliferation-elearning.eu). Please note that although the original text was written by the authors, the video production and simplifications were carried out by PRIF.

The EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament eLearning Course aims to cover all aspects of the EU non-proliferation and disarmament agenda. It's produced by PRIF with financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of individual learning units are the sole responsibility of the respective authors and don't necessariy reflect the position of the European Union.