4.1. Nuclear Weapons and Global Politics

1. 4.1. Nuclear Weapons and Global Politics • Learning objectives: • Be familiar with the characteristics of nuclear weapons and their destructive power • Apply concept of deterrence to Cold War and post-Cold War worlds • Understand the criticisms of deterrence

2. Nuclear Basics Deterrence The Nuclear Arms Race Nuclear Deterrence in Action 4.1. Nuclear Weapons and Global Politics

3. Nuclear Basics: The Effects EMP Thermal Radiation Blast Fallout Nuclear Winter?

4. Deterrence “A policy of preventing or discouraging an action by confronting an opponent or opponents with risks they are unwilling to run. Deterrence attempts to stop unwanted actions before they occur.”

5. Deterrence Deterrence by Denial Deterrence by Punishment Study Tip: Do you think deterrence is sufficient protection or security against the prospect of North Korean or Iranian nuclear weapons? Why or why not?

6. The Nuclear Arms Race

7. Dilemmas in the logic of Deterrence • Command and Control • Measuring Deterrence • Usability Paradox • Credibility Dilemma • Rationality • Technological innovation • Accidental nuclear war

8. Surprise attack Escalation Accidental/unauthorized use Study Tip: Think abut the decision-making models we discussed earlier. How would each of the models explain a decision to use nuclear weapons? Which model does nuclear deterrence seem to be based on? How might a nuclear war start?

9. Nuclear Deterrence in Action

10. Summary • Learning objectives: • By the end of this class, you should be able to describe the technical characteristics of nuclear weapons and the common delivery systems. • You should be able to describe the effects of a nuclear explosion. • You should be familiar with role of nuclear weapons during the Cold War and the opposition to them. • You should be able to describe nuclear deterrence and the possible flaws in the logic of deterrence. • You should be able to apply the concept of nuclear deterrence in the India/Pakistan context.