Analytic Research on Strategic, Tactical and Doctrinal Military Concepts -- The Concept of Stability

Abstract

This report distinguishes between international political stability and strategic nuclear stability, providing a concise history of each concept. It then defines the following subcategories of strategic nuclear stability: deterrence stability, crisis stability, arms race stability, and escalation stability. The development of what is termed orthodox nuclear strategic doctrine, which holds that stability depends upon both nuclear superpowers' having invulnerable retaliatory forces and vulnerable societies, is traced from its beginnings about 1960 to the present. The role of stability, in the 1960s and 1970s, as the key link between arms control policy and weapons acquisition policy is identified and discussed. Alternative approaches to stability, including Soviet views, are summarized. An extensive, fully annotated bibliography is included.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 03, 1980
Accession Number
ADA120061

Entities

People

  • Gay Hammerman

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arms Control
  • Congress
  • Foreign Relations
  • Governments
  • International Law
  • International Relations
  • International Security
  • Law
  • National Security
  • Political Systems
  • Public Policy
  • Sociopolitics
  • Strategic Weapons
  • Treaties
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Warning Systems

Readers

  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Theoretical Analysis.