New Technologies and the Role of Nuclear Weapons in National Security Strategy. Volume 7. The US and European Security -- Interests and Politics.
Abstract
This chapter considers certain historical and political aspects of the security community between the US and Western Europe. The importance of West Europe. The importance of West Europe to the US was recognized by American policymakers for 50 years prior to the founding of NATO. The vital US interest in NATO security thus is not closely related to the brief period of overwhelming American nuclear superiority in the 1950s, but both preceded and followed that era. Recurrent NATO crises should be viewed in this light. American isolationism was never as absolute as is remembered and is unlikely to return, since its ethnic basis has been removed by world events. American volatility is a source of concern on both sides of the Atlantic, but this can be smoothed out by skillful leadership. Current arguments opposing the US guarantees to NATO are examined and found to be inadequate and unrealistic. Keywords: Balance of power; Isolationism; American politics; Public opinion; War planning; American foreign policy moods; Nuclear strategy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 31, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA179933
Entities
People
- Arthur Steiner