The Soviet political campaign against the U. S. Strategic Defense Initiative

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:7035828

Clark, M T

The thesis of this dissertation is that the Soviet political campaign against the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) is designed to prevent the United States from deploying a ballistic missile defense (BMD) system capable of reducing the imbalance in U.S.-Soviet strategic nuclear force (SNF) vulnerabilities. The thesis is examined in two parts: (1) background on Soviet capabilities for political operations; and (2) the political campaign against SDI. The preferred Soviet objective in opposing SDI has remained for the U.S. to reach a decision on its own to suspend deployment of BMD, and to restrict and reduce the SDI research and development program. Soviet arms control proposals on SDI that asymmetrically affect U.S. and Soviet strategic defense programs are examined. U.S. concessions to extreme Soviet proposals have altered the original rationale for SDI. Rather than being a non-negotiable instrument to bring about a defense-dominant deterrence regime, SDI subsequently became insurance, after an agreement has been reached on reducing or eliminating ballistic missiles, against accidental or unauthorized launches. Finally, two case studies that impact SDI are examined. Soviet efforts to use the ABM Treaty interpretation dispute and violations issues to its advantage against SDI are considered.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Los Angeles, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7035828
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
350100* -- Arms Control-- Policy
Negotiations
& Legislation-- (1987-)
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ARMS CONTROL
ASIA
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
EASTERN EUROPE
EUROPE
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
NATIONAL DEFENSE
NEGOTIATION
NORTH AMERICA
POLITICAL ASPECTS
PROPOSALS
USA
USSR
VIOLATIONS