Nucear Deterrence,Arms Control,and Multipolarity: An Argument for Incremental Policy Change

Changes in the international environment and potential deep cuts in nuclear arsenals have raised issues regarding central tenets of nuclear deterrence theory. This article examines three of the primary issues in the current debates: the [dis]utility of the theory and the weaponry: arms control and renewed calls for minimum deterrence; and multipolarity and nuclear weapons. It argues that, while continued deemphasis of nuclear weapons and deterrence theory seems desirable, in fact it is time to allow recent modifications to solidify before enacting more far-reaching changes.