The logic of American nuclear strategy: why strategic superiority matters
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Choice Review
This is a sobering and sophisticated book by a well-published expert on nuclear weapons in international politics. Kroenig (Georgetown) argues that the US should continue to rely upon its long-standing robust nuclear posture not only to ensure a second-strike capability in the event of nuclear war but also to maintain overall strategic superiority to serve broader security interests, especially in crises. His nuanced analysis is original and draws on a wide range of literature on nuclear strategy, crisis bargaining, weapons proliferation, arms races, deterrence and compellence. He offers a novel "superiority-brinkmanship synthesis theory" to explain the logic of America's nuclear strategy, informed by academic research, practical concerns, and behaviors of policy makers. The methodology includes several statistical tests of historical cases involving states involved in proliferation and crisis behavior. Kroenig considers both the advantages and costs of this strategy, deeming the latter reasonable and more than offset by the advantages. He concludes with reflections and recommendations for US nuclear policy going forward. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. --Joseph P. Smaldone, Georgetown University