Publications

A Primer on U.S. Strategic Nuclear Policy

Kunsman, David M.; Lawson, Douglas B.

This primer presents a succinct summary of the evolution of U.S. nuclear deterrence policy from the initial development of nuclear weapons until the present day. This is not a definitive history but an introduction to deterrence policy for those with limited background in this area. The concept of deterrence is discussed in several ways--in a general description of deterrence theory, in an historical review of nuclear policy evolution, in a discussion of the future of deterrence, in historical examples of deterrence successes and failures, and in a review of significant contributors to the study of nuclear policy. The intent is to present an authoritative, unclassified account. To accomplish this, to the extent possible, primary source documents were located and utilized if they were available and declassified. These included unclassified Presidential nuclear policy guidance from the Presidential libraries, official JCS histories and State Department Foreign Relations histories. The writings of noted nuclear strategists and historians were also valuable resources for this primer on U.S. strategic nuclear policy.