Evaluating the accomplishments of the cooperative threat reduction program
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Authors
Grams, Stacy A.
Subjects
Advisors
Yost, David S.
Date of Issue
2000-12
Date
2000-12
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
This thesis offers an analytical survey of evaluations of the effectiveness of the U.S-sponsored Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) program. The CTR remains the principal source of U.S.-Russian interactions regarding WMD proliferation. Russia's internal problems, including political, economic, military and social instability, have created the risk that rogue states or terrorists may attempt to exploit the uncertainties in Russia to buy or steal nuclear weapons and/or materials and/or to acquire the expertise to develop a nuclear capability. This thesis explores four competing perspectives in the United States on the accomplishments of the CTR's nuclear agenda. The key points of discord among the competing schools of thought include the significance of limitations on the ability of the United States to effectively monitor and accurately assess the contributions of the program, and the expansion of the program to include projects that do not directly concern weapons dismantlement. This thesis concludes that the CTR's contributions to countermg WMD proliferation could be more effectively pursued if the United States enhanced the quality of the CTR and worked cooperatively with Russia to address the full spectrum of common interests. The thesis also finds that if Russia fails to develop an enduring safeguard culture much of the CTR assistance may prove to have been of no avail.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xiv, 84 p.;28 cm.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.