Ensuring Strategic Stability In The Second Nuclear Age

Abstract

This research paper argues the United States must seek a balanced systems approach to ensure strategic stability in a nuclear multiplicity environment among its nuclear-armed peers, near peers and nonpeers. The paper first analyzes what strategic stability meant during the Cold War and identifies common elements of strategic stability strategies. In the second part, the paper recalculates strategic stability for the 21st century. The second part begins with asserting strategic stability remains a relevant strategy for the United States in the contemporary nuclear-armed world. Then, the concept of stability is redefined among the three categories of nuclear actors the United States must balance in the second nuclear age nuclear-armed peers, near peers and nonpeers. Finally, using the common strategic stability elements identified in the first part of the paper and applying them systematically to the new stability framework, the paper presents a balanced posture to ensure strategic stability during the second nuclear age.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 16, 2016
Accession Number
AD1037271

Entities

People

  • Robert Ewers

Organizations

  • Air War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Active Defense
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Arms Control
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Cold War
  • Department Of Defense
  • Equations
  • Foreign Relations
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • International Relations
  • National Security
  • New York
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Security
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Strategic Security Studies