Lessons from the ICRC’s Millennials on War Survey for Communication and Advocacy on Nuclear Weapons

Abstract

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 2020 survey Millennials on War showed that while millennials are overwhelmingly opposed to the use of nuclear weapons, their views on the possession, development, and maintenance of these weapons are more nuanced. This carries important lessons for future communication and advocacy efforts on the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons. Notably, the results suggest that a communication and advocacy strategy centered around issues and messages related to the use of nuclear weapons is more likely to generate broad public support than a strategy focused on possession, development, and maintenance of these weapons. The survey findings also suggest that campaigners and organizations working to mobilize public opinion against these weapons have a job to do when it comes to showing how this issue affects people’s lives.

Keywords

• nuclear weapons
• treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons
• tpnw
• icrc
• public opinion
• advocacy