Crisis management in the nuclear age

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5566707

Rusten, L; Stern, P C

This report examines the management tasks and problems that face leaders of the superpowers in international crises: gathering and assessing information, identifying and evaluating options, coordinating the functions of huge and complex organizations communicating with adversaries and allies, and implementing decisions through far-flung human and technological organizations, all in a compressed period of time and with immensely high stakes. It also discusses various ideas for improving crisis management. The report emphasizes, however, that crisis resolution sometimes competes with other goals of national leaders. Although the report raises more issues than it resolves, it is hoped that increased recognition of the problems can aid crisis management by making decision-makers more consciously aware of the complex bureaucratic, psychological, and technical interactions that can affect the success of their efforts.

• Research Organization: National Research Council, Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5566707
• Report Number(s): PB-88-138086/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

350000 -- Arms Control-- (1987-)
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450202* -- Explosions & Explosives-- Nuclear-- Weaponry-- (-1989)
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ARMS CONTROL
COMMUNICATIONS
DATA ANALYSIS
DECISION MAKING
EMERGENCY PLANS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
POLITICAL ASPECTS
WEAPONS