Games of Chicken: Four Decades of U.S. Nuclear Policy Contributor(s): Schwartzman, David (Author) |
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ISBN: 0275928845 ISBN-13: 9780275928841 Publisher: Praeger OUR PRICE: $84.15 Product Type: Hardcover Published: February 1988 |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - History | Military - Nuclear Warfare - Political Science | International Relations - Arms Control |
Dewey: 355.021 |
LCCN: U263 |
Series: Praeger Security International |
Physical Information: 0.63" H x 6" W x 9" (1.10 lbs) 248 pages |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: Games of Chicken proposes basing nuclear weapons policies on both historical and analytical arguments. Schwartzman analyzes the trade-off between the aggression risk, which U.S. policy has sought to minimize, and the pre-emption risk, which has been ignored. This analysis is then applied to policy developments under each of the post-war U.S. presidents. The historical analysis also demonstrates the importance of the role of myths in the development of policy, most notably: the myth of the nuclear strategy expert; the evil empire myth; and the economic necessity myth. Finally, the author proposes a viable solution to the increasing build-up of nuclear weapons, one which would minimize the preemption risk. |