Research Summaries

Back Limited Nuclear Conflict

Fiscal Year 2018
Division Research & Sponsored Programs
Department Naval Research Program
Investigator(s) Twomey, Christopher P.
Yost, David S.
Tsypkin, Mikhail
Abenheim, Donald
Sponsor NPS Naval Research Program (Navy)
Summary During the Cold-War the prevailing view seemed to be that limited nuclear exchanges in a war between the Soviet Union and NATO would quickly escalate into a global nuclear exchange between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. There was much rich debate about the potential for limited nuclear war. Recent events in today's security environment indicate that some nuclear armed states may not hold those view and believe that limited nuclear weapons use may be achievable without escalation to a broader nuclear exchange. Some states such as Russia have even postulated the notion that nuclear weapons could be used to de-escalate a conflict.
What are current nuclear armed states (particularly Russia and China) stated views on the potential of limited nuclear conflicts? What are current nuclear armed states views on the possibility that limited nuclear conflicts will not escalate to a broader nuclear conflict? How do these views compare and contrast with traditional Cold-War views and what conclusions can be learned? What do the plans for the future of their nuclear arsenals tell us about their attitudes to limited nuclear conflict?
The intent of this study is to compare and contrast the views of nuclear capable nation states of today with the views of the Cold-War adversaries that a limited nuclear conflict can be fought and not escalate into a broader nuclear conflict.
Keywords
Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal