Nuclear arms control : nuclear deterrence in the post-cold war period / Tom Sauer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sauer, Tom.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nuclear arms control.

Nuclear nonproliferation.

Physical Description:

xv, 146 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire [England] ; New York : St. Martin's Press, 1998.

Summary:

The proliferation of nuclear weapons has been defined as the gravest potential threat to international peace and security. The concept of nuclear deterrence has to be revised in this regard. The longer the Nuclear Weapon States hold on to their nuclear weapons, the bigger the chance that nuclear weapons will be spread and will be used (once again) by accident, in an authorized or unauthorized way, or that nuclear terrorism will become reality. In this book, the author analyzes the threat of nuclear proliferation not on moral but on realist grounds, arguing that a Nuclear Weapon Free World should be considered as a viable alternative.

Contents:

1 Nuclear Deterrence Revisited 1

1.1 The nuclear paradox 1

1.2 Conditions for nuclear deterrence 3

1.2.1 The opponent must be susceptible to deterence 4

1.2.2 Vital interest must be threatened 8

1.2.3 A credible nuclear strategy 9

1.3 Nuclear deterrence and nuclear proliferation 24

1.4 Nuclear deterrence: the risk of accidents and unauthorized use 25

1.5 Nuclear deterrence: a minimalist approach 26

2 Nuclear Deterrence and Nuclear Proliferation in the Post-Cold War Period

2.1 Nuclear risks in the post-Cold War period 30

2.1.1 Nuclear proliferation 31

2.1.2 Nuclear terrorism 35

2.1.3 Accidents with nuclear weapons 36

2.2 Answers to these 'new' nuclear risks 36

2.2.1 The traditional nuclear non-proliferation regime 36

2.2.2 'Extended deterrence' 44

2.2.3 Nuclear deterrence as an answer to the 'new' nuclear risks 45

2.2.4 Counterproliferation 51

3 Nuclear Arms Control in the Future: Heading Towards a Nuclear Weapon Free World 59

3.1 Is a nuclear weapon free world (NWFW) desirable? 61

3.1.1 Risks in an NWFW and possible solutions 61

3.1.2 Absolute requirements for an NWFW 65

3.1.3 An NWFW: more than desirable! 68

3.2 Nuclear addiction 76

3.2.1 Belief in nuclear deterrence 76

3.2.2 Prestige 77

3.2.3 Personal (or group) interests 78

3.3 Towards an NWFW 80

3.3.1 Stage one: the further marginalization of nuclear weapons 81

3.3.2 Second stage: a quasi-NWFW 91

3.3.3 Third stage: an NWFW 91

Epilogue: The possible 'Europeanization' of the French (and British?) nuclear weapons 96

Appendix I List of quotations in favour of an NWFW 103

Appendix II Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (1968) 108.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0312211961

033371685X

OCLC:

37640510