The present writer has long entertained a simplistic view of nuclear weapons. Namely, that what these things are good for is deterrence against being conquered by a more powerful state. A second-strike capability is the ultimate deterrent, allowing even medium-sized powers to ensure their long-term survival. This is the standard realist view, espoused by the father of neorealism, Kenneth Waltz, himself.1
Nuclear Weapons and the Balance of Power
Nuclear Weapons and the Balance of Power
Nuclear Weapons and the Balance of Power
The present writer has long entertained a simplistic view of nuclear weapons. Namely, that what these things are good for is deterrence against being conquered by a more powerful state. A second-strike capability is the ultimate deterrent, allowing even medium-sized powers to ensure their long-term survival. This is the standard realist view, espoused by the father of neorealism, Kenneth Waltz, himself.1