Strategic Nuclear Doctrine

1
Strategic Nuclear Doctrine

• Compellence and Deterrence

2
The Nuclear Balance Three Periods

• 1945-1950 U.S. monopoly
• 1951-1962 U.S. superiority
• 1963-1991 Relative parity

3
U.S. Monopoly, 1945- 1950

• Only the U.S. possesses atomic weapons
• U.S. tries to maintain its monopoly
• Secrecy
• Baruch Plan
• U.S.S.R. explodes first atomic weapon in 1949

4
Coercive Diplomacy, 1950-1962

• Presidential administration of Dwight D.
  Eisenhower implements policy of Massive
  Retaliation
• States that enjoy military superiority vis-à-vis
  their adversaries often use weapons as
  instruments in diplomatic bargaining
• U.S. tried to use its nuclear superiority to
  control Soviet behavior

5
Massive Retaliation

• Counter-value strategy
• U.S. missiles target Soviet population centers
• U.S. threatens to respond to Soviet aggression
  with massive nuclear attack
• 1957 U.S.S.R. launches Sputnik satellite

6
Flexible Response

• Growing Strength of Soviet nuclear program forces
  reevaluation of U.S. nuclear strategy
• Kennedy administration adopts policy of Flexible
  Response

7
Mutual Deterrence, 1962-1983

• U.S. policy shifts from compellence to deterrence
• U.S. and U.S.S.R. try to prevent nuclear attack
• Nuclear deterrence requires second-strike
  capacity
• Missiles placed in hardened silos
• Missiles on submarines
• Missiles on continuously airborne strategic
  bombers

8
Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

• U.S. and Soviets expose themselves to massive
  attack by the other
• Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM)
• Guaranteed vulnerability of populations
• Protected second-strike capability