Originally published in 1985, Deterrence in the 1980s offers analyses by leading American and Canadian scholars and decision-makers in the field of strategic studies of the current problems and dilemmas of contemporary international security with deterrence, nuclear and conventional, as the unifying conceptual theme. Deterrence as theory, as history, as psychology, as politics, as ethics and as policy is addressed. The authors outline the complexities of deterrence, in theory and in practice, and offer proposals regarding the future operationalization of deterrence in order both to reassure Western publics and to enhance Western and international security. Soviet-American strategic relations, along with the problems posed for the Western Alliance, are analysed.
Within the context of NATO, the dilemmas, for both Europe and North America, of extended deterrence are raised. Despite the current crisis of deterrence, no other security strategy appears viable as long as nuclear weapons are retained for purposes of national security. However, current trends in the operationalization of deterrence – nuclear-war fighting capabilities – have raised concerns about the future of deterrence.
Preface. Editor’s Introduction. 1. Deterrence Under Attack: Crisis and Dilemma R. B. Byers 2. Deterrence in the 1980s: A Political and Contextual Analysis Janice Gross Stein 3. The Strategy of Deterrence: Is the Concept Credible? George H. Quester 4. Stable Deterrence or Nuclear War-Fighting: All Unclear on the Nuclear Front Leon V. Sigal 5. Space-Based Defence: The ‘Star Wars’ Initiative George Rathjens 6. American and European Security in the 1980s James Leonard 7. Disquiet on the Western Front: An Inquiry into the Current Distemper Lawrence S. Hagen 8. NATO, No First Use and Conventional Deterrence Paul Ruteux 9. Arms Control and Deterrence Strategies Dan Caldwell 10. The Future of Deterrence Part 1: Deterrence and the General Public Robert W. Reford Part 2: Deterrence: Political-Strategic Perspectives de Montigny Marchand Part 3: Deterrence: Military-Strategic Perspectives G. C. E. Theriault Part 4: Deterrence and the Reagan Administration Helmut Sonnenfeltd. List of Contributors. Conference Participants. Index.
Biography
R. B. Byers
