Nuclear Politics : Destruction and Disarmament
in a Dangerous World/edited by Gerson Da Costa. 2000, viii,
320 p., figs., $33. ISBN 81-7391-325-0.
Nuclear Politics : Destruction and Disarmament
in a Dangerous World/edited by Gerson Da Costa. 2000, viii,
320 p., figs., $33. ISBN 81-7391-325-0.
Contents: Preface. 1. Major issues in perspective: an introduction. 2. Post-war politics: ideology and national interest. 3. New world order and balance-of-power politics. 4. The United States and world military supremacy. 5. Strategic mobility: logistics of US armed forces. 6. Third world war: ballistic missile strikes and human survival. 7. Nuclear politics: deterrence and diplomacy in a dangerous world. 8. Missile defences: an appraisal in country perspective. 9. Political economy of weapons market "Profit before peace". 10. South Asian weapons perspective: India's missile programme. 11. Agenda for disarmament: politics of trust. 12. Threat perception and response: nuclear forces in Australia. Appendix: 1. Note on military posture and national policy. 2. Opinion profile: threat perceptions. Index.
"Mutually Assured Destruction or MAD is the appropriate acronym for the emerging dimensions in world nuclear politics since the end of the Cold War in the early nineties. The emergence of new 'nuclear' states such as India and Pakistan has cast a long and ominous shadow over the on-going efforts to de-nuclearise the world through the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The first use deterrence principle has ensured a fragile world order that occasionally plunges into grim uncertainty when nuclear threats are held out, such as in the recent conflict between India and Pakistan. The perspective of disarmament on a global scale to avoid death and destruction in today's dangerous world, is sought to be presented in this carefully selected batch of papers and articles for the student and researcher of modern politics. The volume includes views on ballistic missile politics, nuclear diplomacy, a practicable agenda for world peace, the role of the USA as the world most powerful nation, the United Nations and non-proliferation endeavours, and the perceived world order with its precarious balance of power. The materials presented here offer a world-view without illusions." (jacket)
[Gerson da Costa's books include Political Profiles--The New World Leaders and The Paradox of Afghanistan--American and Soviet Proxy Wars.]