The Spread of Nuclear Weapons: A Debate [Paperback]

Scott Douglas Sagan (Author), Kenneth N. Waltz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1997 | ISBN-10: 0393967166 | ISBN-13: 978-0393967166

If the build-up of nuclear weapons was a significant factor in maintaining the "long peace" between the United States and the Soviet Union, will the spread of nuclear weapons beyond these two superpowers stabilize or disrupt international relations. In this book, two scholars of international politics debate the issue. Kenneth Waltz argues that fear of the spread of nuclear weapons is unfounded - "more may be better". Nuclear proliferation may be a stabilizing force, as it decreases the likelihood of war by increasing its costs. Scott Sagan, however, argues that nuclear proliferation will make the world less stable - "more will be worse". Nuclear-armed states may not possess the internal structures that would ensure safe and rational control of nuclear weapons. Written for a general audience, this book is intended to help the public understand more clearly the role of nuclear weapons in the new world order.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Sagan and Waltz, from Stanford and Berkeley, respectively, present a short, intellectual exchange on an often covered topic. Waltz, the optimist, argues that because nuclear weapons "will nevertheless spread," the end result will be stabilizing. His main point is that "nuclear weapons make wars hard to start" and that even radical states will act like rational ones because of the mutually deterrent effort of nuclear weapons. Sagan, the pessimist, fears the worst because of "inherent limits in organizational reliability." The parochial interests of professional military leaders in emerging nuclear states, who will tend to see war as "inevitable" and skeptically view any nonmilitary alternatives, will lead to deterrence failures or accidental war. In addition, Sagan argues these states will probably lack "positive mechanisms of civilian control" to restrain militant tendencies. Waltz and Sagan also offer short essays recapping the main points. For such a short book, there is much to ponder here.?John Yurechko, Georgetown Univ., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Are more states with nuclear weapons conducive to international stability? Waltz says yes, Sagan no, and they take up the cudgels of their positions in this exceptionally clear distillation of the parameters of proliferation. Sagan concedes that Waltz's rationalist arguments in favor of Pax Atomica have been more coherent than the "Just Say No" school of thought he expresses. But confidence in the rationality and caution of bomb owners, Sagan insists, is undermined by the vulnerability of infant stockpiles to preemptive strikes by a nervous neighbor, as nearly happened in May_ 1990 between Pakistan and India. He also sees aspirant governments as politically volatile, militarily dominated, and unable to construct survivable second-strike forces. Waltz rebuts these worries point by point, often with reference to the behavior of the Americans and the Russians. The crux of these political scientists' disagreement is whether even one bomb would deter a potential attacker: Waltz believes it would, Sagan doesn't. Is it worth the risk to let proliferation run on? Libraries can only furnish information on the question. Gilbert Taylor --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (June 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393967166
• ISBN-13: 978-0393967166
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,279,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Perspectives in the Nuclear Debate July 1, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

Is nuclear proliferation good? Does it increase stability? Or is it unstable, either because of accidents or misuse? Scott Sagan and Kenneth Waltz play out this debate in this book that looks at the nuclear question through organisational and realist perspectives. If you thought the answer to this debate was obvious, think again - this book will certainly leave you with a lot of questions.