The case for U.S. nuclear weapons in the 21st century / Brad Roberts.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Roberts, Brad, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nuclear weapons--Government policy--United States.

Nuclear weapons.

Deterrence (Strategy).

National security--United States.

National security.

United States--Military policy.

United States.

United States--Foreign relations--21st century.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (351 p.)

Other Title:

Case for U.S. nuclear weapons in the twenty first century

Place of Publication:

Stanford, California : Stanford Security Studies, an imprint of Stanford University Press, [2016]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book is a counter to the conventional wisdom that the United States can and should do more to reduce both the role of nuclear weapons in its security strategies and the number of weapons in its arsenal. The case against nuclear weapons has been made on many grounds—including historical, political, and moral. But, Brad Roberts argues, it has not so far been informed by the experience of the United States since the Cold War in trying to adapt deterrence to a changed world, and to create the conditions that would allow further significant changes to U.S. nuclear policy and posture. Drawing on the author's experience in the making and implementation of U.S. policy in the Obama administration, this book examines that real world experience and finds important lessons for the disarmament enterprise. Central conclusions of the work are that other nuclear-armed states are not prepared to join the United States in making reductions, and that unilateral steps by the United States to disarm further would be harmful to its interests and those of its allies. The book ultimately argues in favor of patience and persistence in the implementation of a balanced approach to nuclear strategy that encompasses political efforts to reduce nuclear dangers along with military efforts to deter them.

Contents:

The evolution of U.S. nuclear policy and posture since the end of the Cold War

The first new problem : nuclear-armed regional challengers

The new regional deterrence strategy

The second new problem : relations with Putin's Russia

The evolving relationship with China

Extended deterrence and strategic stability in Europe

Extended deterrence and strategic stability in Northeast Asia

The broader nuclear assurance agenda

Conclusions

Epilogue : implications for future strategy, policy, and posture reviews.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780804797153

0804797153

OCLC:

945873384