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Nuclear Myths and Political Realities

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  • Waltz, Kenneth N.

Abstract

Two pervasive beliefs have given nuclear weapons a bad name: that nuclear deterrence is highly problematic, and that a breakdown in deterrence would mean Armageddon. Both beliefs are misguided and suggest that nearly half a century after Hiroshima, scholars and policy makers have yet to grasp the full strategic implications of nuclear weaponry. I contrast the logic of conventional and nuclear weaponry to show how nuclear weapons are in fact a tremendous force for peace and afford nations that possess them the possibility of security at reasonable cost.

Suggested Citation

  • Waltz, Kenneth N., 1990. "Nuclear Myths and Political Realities," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 84(3), pages 730-745, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:84:y:1990:i:03:p:730-745_19
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    Cited by:

    1. Weiqi Zhang, 2018. "Neither friend nor big brother: China’s role in North Korean foreign policy strategy," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 1-6, December.
    2. Kyungwon Suh, 2023. "Nuclear balance and the initiation of nuclear crises: Does superiority matter?," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 60(2), pages 337-351, March.
    3. Paul Huth & D. Scott Bennett & Christopher Gelpi, 1992. "System Uncertainty, Risk Propensity, and International Conflict among the Great Powers," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 36(3), pages 478-517, September.
    4. Frank C. Zagare, 2004. "Reconciling Rationality with Deterrence," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 16(2), pages 107-141, April.
    5. Kyle Beardsley & Victor Asal, 2009. "Nuclear Weapons as Shields," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 26(3), pages 235-255, July.
    6. T. V. Paul, 1995. "Nuclear Taboo And War Initiation in Regional Conflicts," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 39(4), pages 696-717, December.
    7. Uriel Abulof, 2015. "The malpractice of “rationality†in international relations," Rationality and Society, , vol. 27(3), pages 358-384, August.
    8. Kyle Beardsley & Victor Asal, 2009. "Winning with the Bomb," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 53(2), pages 278-301, April.
    9. Richard Hanania, 2021. "The Humanitarian Turn at the UNSC: Explaining the development of international norms through machine learning algorithms," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 58(4), pages 655-670, July.
    10. Alexander H. Montgomery & Scott D. Sagan, 2009. "The Perils of Predicting Proliferation," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 53(2), pages 302-328, April.
    11. George W Williford & Douglas B Atkinson, 2020. "A Bayesian forecasting model of international conflict," The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation, , vol. 17(3), pages 235-242, July.
    12. Dong-Joon Jo & Erik Gartzke, 2007. "Determinants of Nuclear Weapons Proliferation," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 51(1), pages 167-194, February.

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