Deterrence and Defence in a Post-nuclear World

Emerging technologies are producing conventional military forces of unprecedented lethality.

No trend is more predictable given the imperatives of military strategy and the inexorable pace of technology.

These trends are driven by a simple truth. Powerful nations must eventually base their military strategies on weapons that can be used.

This overwhelmingly simple strategic logic will push us into the post-nuclear era.

The process has been underway for at least two decades in the form of evolving Soviet and American strategies that have sought usable military options in the nuclear age.

Trends toward non-nuclear options will accelerate dramatically in the next decade as a result of technology, arms control, and the impossibility of marrying nuclear deterrence and nuclear war fighting in one coherent doctrine.;The author raises questions of direct relevance to the current NATO debate .. he reminds us of the changes that have taken place in the Atlantic relationship and suggests problems as well as opportunities for new strategic thinking created by the renewed interest in arms control'