Nuc Deterrence: Past,PresFut

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This course is an advanced Introduction to nuclear deterrence, focused on questions of nuclear strategy and the role of nuclear weapons in world politics. Part I introduces major concepts and controversies in the study of nuclear deterrence, including the role of nuclear weapons in world politics and state strategy, and debates about the effects of the nuclear balance. Part II delves into the historical episodes that have motivated and complicated these questions, starting with America’s atomic monopoly in World War II and then moving to the age of nuclear parity and the arms race with the Soviet Union. Superpower nuclear strategy, nuclear crises, arms control, missile defense, and concerns about nuclear escalation are all addressed, along with the rise of regional nuclear powers such as Israel, India, and Pakistan. Part III leverages the theories and empirical evidence from the first two parts of the course to explore contemporary topics in nuclear deterrence. These include debates about the future of the U.S. nuclear posture and U.S. nuclear strategy toward China, North Korea, Iran, and potential non-state nuclear actors. The class addresses non-proliferation and technical aspects of nuclear weaponry relatively briefly, as these topics are covered in other classes offered at the university.