CONTINUITY AND TRANSFORMATION IN THE UNITED STATES' NUCLEAR POSTURE
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Authors
Metz, Andrew D.
Subjects
2018
nuclear
posture
review
weapon
weapons
policy
United States
treaty
treaties
international relations
strategy
strategic command
NPR
politics
Cold War
Ground Based Strategic Deterrent
UH-1 Replacement Program
Minuteman III
bomber
Ohio-Class Submarine
ICBM
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
SLBM
Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile
B-1
B-2
B-52
1.2 Trillion
policy
threat
threats
Air Force
Navy
Global Strike Command
missile
bomb
atomic
energy
warhead
nuclear
posture
review
weapon
weapons
policy
United States
treaty
treaties
international relations
strategy
strategic command
NPR
politics
Cold War
Ground Based Strategic Deterrent
UH-1 Replacement Program
Minuteman III
bomber
Ohio-Class Submarine
ICBM
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
SLBM
Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile
B-1
B-2
B-52
1.2 Trillion
policy
threat
threats
Air Force
Navy
Global Strike Command
missile
bomb
atomic
energy
warhead
Advisors
Wirtz, James J.
Date of Issue
2019-12
Date
Dec-19
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This thesis created a matrix to compare the four post-Cold War Nuclear Posture Reviews (NPRs) published by the United States Department of Defense. Side-by-side comparison of these white papers revealed remarkable trends in U.S. nuclear policy. The matrix began by assigning themes within NPRs to paradigms common to international relations research. These paradigms are declaratory policy, procurement policy, employment policy, and deployment policy. This thesis began by analyzing the history of NPRs and reactions to them in the scholarly and international communities. Next, it created an impartial summary of the identified themes as they are tracked through the NPRs. This thesis then analyzed and critiqued the trends in nuclear policy based on the matrix, scholarly reactions to NPRs, and other research related to U.S. force structure and the worldwide threat environment such as the economic interdependence between the United States and China and how it affects the two countries’ relationship. Some policy trends followed party lines; others did not. Some were erratic and others were more predictable. The value of these trends validates some concerns and disproves others with regard to the U.S. nuclear posture and the worldwide threat environment. The thesis concluded that the world is a safer place with nuclear weapons, and although a world free of nuclear weapons is a responsible goal for future policymakers, it is simply not practical for the foreseeable future.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.