Limited war, limited autonomy: The state, domestic politics, and the evolution of U. S. nuclear weapons policy (Volumes 1 and 2)
This study examines the nature of the relationship between state and society for the formation of US nuclear weapons policy. By looking at three case studies that cover the years 1960-1983, Mlyn, seeks to determine whether society and, in turn, domestic politics have been important for the formulation of US nuclear weapons policy. The theoretical approach, which applies the conceptual underpinnings of statism, draws on existing theory in American politics and international relations. The case studies are constructed from interviews with former government officials, archival research, and secondary sources. The substantive focus of the study is the relationship between declaratory policy and targeting policy. For much of the nuclear age, declaratory policy embraced mutual assured destruction (MAD) while actual targeting policy embraced war fighting, or the opposite of MAD. As the state moved toward a declaratory policy that embraced war fighting and limited nuclear options, it lost its autonomy from society in formulating nuclear weapons policy. This loss of autonomy coincided with a relative decline for the US vis a vis the Soviet Union in the overall strategic nuclear balance. The causes and consequences of this shift are explored.
- Research Organization:
- Minnesota Univ., Minneapolis, MN (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 7267493
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
USA
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
NUCLEAR DETERRENCE
POLITICAL ASPECTS
SOCIAL IMPACT
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
NORTH AMERICA
WEAPONS
350100* - Arms Control- Policy
Negotiations
& Legislation- (1987-)
290600 - Energy Planning & Policy- Nuclear Energy