India's Emerging Nuclear Posture: Between Recessed Deterrent and Ready Arsenal (Paperback)

by Ashley J. Tellis (Author) "After a hiatus of almost 24 years, India once again startled the world by resuming nuclear testing at a time when the international community had..." (more)
Key Phrases: completed nuclear weapons, traditional nuclear posture, deterrence breakdown, New Delhi, United States, South Asia (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
... A lucid account of the likely evolution of India's nuclear-weapons policy. -- The Economist, May 25, 2002

...a classic of its kind....If you are interested in India's nuclear choices, this is one of two indispensable intellectual companions. -- India Today, November 26, 2001

...not merely a tour d'horizon of the likely future... but a tour de force on nuclear proliferation. -- Sumit Ganguly, Foreign Affairs, September/October 2001

...unlikely to be surpassed in the near future as the definitive account of the country's evolving nuclear strategy. -- Amitabh Mattoo, The Indian Express, November 2001

A must-read for South Asia watchers, this book deserves a wider audience. -- George Perkovich, Survival, Spring 2002

Buoyed by the reputation of RAND and rigorous research of American academia comes another book on India's emerging nuclear policy. -- Raja Menon, Outlook India, November 2001

India cognoscenti must read this book; everyone interested in post-Cold War approaches to nuclear deterrence should read it. -- George Perkovich, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, March/April 2002

Product Description
On May 11, 1998, after a hiatus of more than two decades, India conducted a series of nuclear tests that signaled a critical shift in its strategic thinking. Once content to embrace a nuclear posture consisting largely of "maintaining the option"--i.e., neither creating a nuclear arsenal nor renouncing its right to do so--India is now on the threshold of adopting a posture that, while stopping short of creating a ready arsenal, will take as its goal the establishment of a "minimum but credible deterrent," known as a "force-in-being." This book examines the forces--political, strategic, technological, and ideational--that led to this dramatic policy shift and describes how New Delhi's force-in-being will be fashioned, particularly in light of the threat India faces from its two most salient adversaries, China and Pakistan. The book evaluates in detail the material, infrastructural, and procedural capabilities India currently possesses as well as those it is likely to acquire in its efforts to meet the needs of its evolving force-in-being. Finally, the volume concludes by assessing the strategic implications of India's posture both on the South Asian region in particular and on the global nonproliferation regime in general.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 427 pages
• Publisher: RAND Corporation (September 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0833027816
• ISBN-13: 978-0833027818
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,364,465 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seminal work., October 9, 2001

By	Avinash P. Mulye (Santa Clara, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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If you want to get a good grasp of India's nuclear force structure and policies then I suggest you read this book cover to cover.

This is a scholarly work full of a lot of Information, arguments backed by solid reasoning and superb constructive criticism.

The author himself is an authority on South Asian Security issues. He is also the advisor of Robert Blackwill(US Ambassador to India).

The author puts himself in the shoes of an Indian and attempts to go an extra mile to explain the threats to India's National Security particularly from India's nuclear neighbors.

The book is organized into 6 chapters and deals with the issue from various angles (Domestic politics, military, National Economic performance and Contemporary International trends in the field of Nuclear Arms control).

Out of the 6 chapters Chapters 4 and 5 are of foremost importance. Towards a Force-in-Being(I) and (II).

The book consists 19 figures and 11 maps. But the maps of India are not shown properly(particularly J&K, PoK and Aksai China).

The discussion of India's SSN/SSBN program(ATV)(pp 573-581) is very interesting so is an analysis of Chinese threat & capabilities.

It also brings up several significant issues that need to be addressed such as the Nuclear Doctrine.

All in all this book is for you !

Happy Reading !

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6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seminal Book., October 10, 2001

By	Avinash P. Mulye (Santa Clara, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

.
This is a very interesting & scholarly work. The author himself is an authority on South Asian Security issues. He is also the advisor of Robert Blackwill(US Ambassador to India).

The book is organized into six chapters and deals with the issue from various angles including but not limited to Military/National Security, Economic, political and contemporary International trends in Arms control/Non Proliferation.

The author puts himself in the shoes of an Indian and attempts to go an extra mile to explain the threats to India's National Security particularly from India's nuclear neighbors.

Chapters 4 & 5 are the most important ones. Towards a Force In Being I & II. In these chapters the author describes how India's nuclear force is taking shape.

The discussion of Chinese capabilities and threats (pp 58-75) is interesting so is the coverage of India's SSN/SSBN program (ATV) pp 573-581.

All in all this book is for you.
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