Getting Back to Basics - Military Deterrence in the "Post" World
Abstract
While most agree that deterrence is better than conflict, in the post-Cold War era most discussion on deterrence has focused narrowly on the changing roles of nuclear weapons. This is a result of the part played by nuclear weapons in the Cold War, and many writers, particularly in America, have no other frame of reference for deterrence. However, if America is to continue to remain engaged in world events, and serve as a global leader, it must re-adjust its vision of deterrence in light of the changed world. America's national security workers need to understand what sort of world this "post" world is, they must acknowledge the place of deterrence in American National Security Policy, establish a realistic relationship between the roles of conventional and nuclear forces in deterrence, and establish a methodology to emplace deterrence in our national security framework. This work argues that the changed world is more than just post Cold War," that we need to educate ourselves about this new world, and the roles of both conventional and nuclear assets in deterrence, and integrate a deliberate approach to deterrence into our national security framework.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 07, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA421366
Entities
People
- Michael N. Smith
Organizations
- United States Army War College