The politics of NATO short-range nuclear modernization, 1983-1990: The follow-on to Lance missile decisions
The follow-on to Lance (FOTL) missile was born in 1983 with a consensual decision by NATO, in the face of a worsening strategic situation, to pursue short-range nuclear force (SNF) modernization. The program continued despite increasing popular and political opposition in Europe. It ended with a May 1990 cancellation decision by the American bureaucracy that reflected converging pressures from the international system, from America's allies, and from the domestic arena. The study asks three questions concerning the FOTL case. Why did NATO decide to upgrade its SNF forces, particularly FOTL Why did NATO continue to support FOTL's development in the face of increasing public opposition as the decade wore on Why did the United States cancel FOTL when it did The thesis attempts to answer each question through the use of one of three analytical perspective: systemic theory, alliance politics, or domestic politics. It concludes that during this time of diminishing threat at the systemic level, domestic-level factors within the German and American milieu became more important.
- Research Organization:
- Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 5348611
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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