Public perspectives on nuclear security. US national security surveys, 1993--1997
- Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States). UNM Inst. for Public Policy
This is the third report in a series of studies to examine how US attitudes about nuclear security are evolving in the post-Cold War era and to identify trends in public perceptions and preferences relevant to the evolution of US nuclear security policy. It presents findings from three surveys: a nationwide telephone survey of randomly selected members of the US general public; a written survey of randomly selected members of American Men and Women of Science; and a written survey of randomly selected state legislators from all fifty US states. Key areas of investigation included nuclear security, cooperation between US and Russian scientists about nuclear issues, vulnerabilities of critical US infrastructures and responsibilities for their protection, and broad areas of US national science policy. While international and US national security were seen to be slowly improving, the primary nuclear threat to the US was perceived to have shifted from Russia to China. Support was found for nuclear arms control measures, including mutual reductions in stockpiles. However, respondents were pessimistic about eliminating nuclear armaments, and nuclear deterrence continued to be highly values. Participants favored decreasing funding f/or developing and testing new nuclear weapons, but supported increased investments in nuclear weapons infrastructure. Strong concerns were expressed about nuclear proliferation and the potential for nuclear terrorism. Support was evident for US scientific cooperation with Russia to strengthen security of Russian nuclear assets. Elite and general public perceptions of external and domestic nuclear weapons risks and external and domestic nuclear weapons benefits were statistically significantly related to nuclear weapons policy options and investment preferences. Demographic variables and individual belief systems were systematically related both to risk and benefit perceptions and to policy and spending preferences.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States); Univ. of New Mexico, Inst. for Public Policy, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 665965
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-98-1707; ON: DE98006273; BR: DP0102021; TRN: AHC29819%%119
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Aug 1998
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Mass and Elite Views on Nuclear Security: US National Security Surveys 1993-1999
Public perspectives of nuclear weapons in the post-cold war environment