Assessing the Conventional Balance in Europe, 1945-1975
Abstract
After years of languishing in the background, conventional arms control -- and in conjunction, the state of the NATO-Warsaw Pact conventional balance -- has lately become a topical policy issue. The growing attention being paid to the state of the conventional balance in Europe makes this an opportune time to examine past assessments of balance. This note provides a historical perspective on the state of the balance and examines how such assessments were arrived at. It should furnish the reader with the background to understanding the current debate over the conventional balance. There are particular reasons for ending this note roughly around 1975. By the mid 1970s and the opening of the Mutual Balanced Force Reduction (MBFR) talks, all the major actors -- the various analyses, assessments, and arguments -- to be found in the current debate over the conventional balance had largely been introduced. Although the debate has continued and even become more sophisticated, it has largely stabilized since that time. (edc)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA228095
Entities
People
- Richard A. Bitzinger
Organizations
- RAND Corporation