Rewriting the Narrative on Nuclear Weapons: A research-based guide to building a safer future

For those seeking to reduce nuclear risks and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons, Rewriting the Narrative on Nuclear Weapons is a practical, research-based guide designed to reverse the dominant narrative that nuclear weapons keep us safe.

The Nuclear Threat Initiative and Ploughshares partnered to develop the guide at a time when nuclear threats are on the rise and attention to the issue has dwindled. The organizations engaged social change experts at Metropolitan Group to better understand how to shift the prevailing narrative and bolster collective efforts for nuclear risk reduction. The result: an evidence-based narrative framework designed to connect with a supermajority of Americans to shift policy, practices, and mindsets.

The narrative emerged from listening sessions with experts and advocates across the nuclear risk-reduction and disarmament field; a news media audit; in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, including field staff and former and current government officials; original research; and input from six focus groups. Its topline statement:

“Every step we take to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons brings us closer to creating the safe and sustainable future we all deserve.”

The messages in the narrative are designed to be effective with a supermajority of the American public, from those who support nuclear risk reduction (“base”) to those whose views can be shifted (“persuadable”). Even in the face of deep skepticism about the possibility of totally eliminating nuclear weapons, its messages were accepted as believable, worthwhile, and achievable.

The narrative guide includes:

• Five core values that advocates can invoke to better connect with deeply held beliefs of a supermajority of the U.S. public
• Core and expanded narrative statements that demonstrate how to invoke five core values and include proof points that resonated with the persuadable supermajority.
• Storytelling imperatives with best practices for changing the narrative on nuclear weapons
• A one-page checklist for more effective communication and narrative implementation.

Rewriting the Narrative on Nuclear Weapons is an adaptable and user-friendly resource for awareness-building, advocacy, and activation efforts to reduce nuclear threats and advance the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons.