The Consequences of American Nuclear Disarmament

This book is about the future of nuclear weapons, geopolitics, and strategy. It examines the legacy of nuclear weapons on US thinking about some concepts of strategy and geopolitics, namely deterrence, extended deterrence, alliances, and arms control. The purpose of this is to demonstrate just how fundamentally nuclear weapons have influenced American thinking about these concepts. It argues that, given the extent of nuclear weapons' influence on these concepts and the implications for international security, further reductions beyond current Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) levels, and the more absolute idea of nuclear disarmament, may not necessarily be prudent ideas. Nuclear weapons have contributed to the avoidance of major war between states, made alliances more credible and last longer, and have made arms control relatively easier to conceptualize and manage. As such, the author argues, these concepts may become even more difficult to manage in a world where nuclear weaponsare marginalized.

Critically analyzes arguments for nuclear reductions and the total elimination of nuclear weapons in light of deterrence strategy and US and Western thinking about strategic concepts Surveys the history of deterrence theory and implementation starting at the early 20th century and going past the end of the Cold War Provides a political history of nuclear weapons and their role in important US alliances in the Asia-Pacific and Europe.

Autorentext
Christine M. Leah is a former Chauncey Postdoctoral Associate at Yale University, USA. She was previously a Stanton Postdoctoral Fellow in Nuclear Security at MIT, USA. She completed her PhD at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre of the Australian National University. She is the author of Australia and the Bomb (2014).

Klappentext
This book presents the strategic consequences of both deep nuclear reductions and complete disarmament in the United States. Christine M. Leah argues that, given the extent of nuclear weapons' influence on US strategic thinking and the implications for international security, further reductions beyond current Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) levels may not necessarily be a prudent idea. Nuclear weapons have contributed to the avoidance of major wars between states, both lengthened and legitimized alliances, and have made arms control relatively easier to conceptualize and manage. As such, Leah argues, the mutual control of nations and weapons may become even more difficult to manage if nuclear weapons are marginalized. This book is thus about the future of nuclear weapons, geopolitics, and strategy.

Inhalt

1. Nuclear Weapons: A Piece of the Peace.- 2. Deterrence Without Nuclear Weapons?.- 3. Deterrence Without Nuclear Warheads?.- 4. Alliances Without Nuclear Weapons? (I).- 5. Alliances Without Nuclear Weapons? (II) The Case of the Asia-Pacific.- 6. Arms Control Without Nuclear Weapons?.- 7. Conclusion: Disarming the Peace?.