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A reappraisal of classic arms control theory that advocates for reprioritizing deterrence over disarmament in a new era of nuclear multipolarity
The United States faces a new era of nuclear arms racing for which it is conceptually unprepared. Great power nuclear competition is seemingly returning with a vengeance as the post–Cold War international order morphs into something more uncertain, complicated, and dangerous. In this unstable third nuclear age, legacy nonproliferation and disarmament instruments designed for outmoded conditions are ill-equipped to tame the complex dynamics of a multipolar nuclear arms race centered on China, Russia, and the United States.
International relations scholar David A. Cooper proposes relearning, reviving, and adapting classic arms control theory and negotiating practices to steer the world away from threatening and destabilizing nuclear arms races. He surveys the history of nuclear arms control efforts, revisits strategic theory’s view of nuclear competition dynamics, and interviews US nuclear policy practitioners about both the past and the emerging era. To prepare for this third nuclear age, Cooper recommends adapting the Cold War’s classical paradigm of adversarial arms control for the contemporary landscape. Rather than prioritizing disarmament to eliminate nuclear weapons, this neoclassical approach would pursue pragmatic agreements to stabilize deterrence relationships among today’s nuclear rivals. Drawing on an extensive theoretical and practical study of the Cold War and its aftermath, Cooper distills relevant lessons that could inform the United States’ long-term efforts to navigate the unprecedented dangers of nuclear multipolarity.
Diverging from other recent books on the topic, Arms Control for the Third Nuclear Age provides analysts with a more hard-nosed strategic approach. In this very different era of great power rivalry, this book will be a must-read for scholars, students, and practitioners of nuclear arms control.
A reappraisal of classic arms control theory that advocates for reprioritizing deterrence over disarmament in a new era of nuclear multipolarity
The United States faces a new era of nuclear arms racing for which it is conceptually unprepared. Great power nuclear competition is seemingly returning with a vengeance as the post–Cold War international order morphs into something more uncertain, complicated, and dangerous. In this unstable third nuclear age, legacy nonproliferation and disarmament instruments designed for outmoded conditions are ill-equipped to tame the complex dynamics of a multipolar nuclear arms race centered on China, Russia, and the United States.
International relations scholar David A. Cooper proposes relearning, reviving, and adapting classic arms control theory and negotiating practices to steer the world away from threatening and destabilizing nuclear arms races. He surveys the history of nuclear arms control efforts, revisits strategic theory’s view of nuclear competition dynamics, and interviews US nuclear policy practitioners about both the past and the emerging era. To prepare for this third nuclear age, Cooper recommends adapting the Cold War’s classical paradigm of adversarial arms control for the contemporary landscape. Rather than prioritizing disarmament to eliminate nuclear weapons, this neoclassical approach would pursue pragmatic agreements to stabilize deterrence relationships among today’s nuclear rivals. Drawing on an extensive theoretical and practical study of the Cold War and its aftermath, Cooper distills relevant lessons that could inform the United States’ long-term efforts to navigate the unprecedented dangers of nuclear multipolarity.
Diverging from other recent books on the topic, Arms Control for the Third Nuclear Age provides analysts with a more hard-nosed strategic approach. In this very different era of great power rivalry, this book will be a must-read for scholars, students, and practitioners of nuclear arms control.
Preface
Acknowledgments
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
1. Our Uncertain Nuclear Future: Navigating a Third Nuclear Age of
Multipolar Competition
2. Cold War Theory Redux: Recalling a Hard-Nosed Concept of
Adversarial Arms Control
3. From Theories to Treaties: Learning from the Cold War
Negotiating Experience
4. A New Arms Race: Transitioning from Post–Cold War
Denuclearization to Great-Power Nuclear Rivalry
5. Arms Control for the Third Nuclear Age: Adapting Old Ideas for
New Times
Conclusion
List of Interviews
Selected Bibliography
Index
About the Author
A reappraisal of classic arms control theory that advocates for reprioritizing deterrence over disarmament in a new era of nuclear multipolarity
David A. Cooper is the James V. Forrestal Professor of National Security Affairs at the US Naval War College. He previously served as director of the Office of Nonproliferation Policy and as director of the Office of Strategic Arms Control Policy at the US Department of Defense. He is the author of Competing Western Strategies Against the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
[A] valuable guide to the theory and practice of arms control.
*Foreign Affairs*
This is one of the most important books on deterrence, strategic
issues, nuclear weapons, and arms control to be published in many
years. The scholarship reflected in this book is superior.
*H-Diplo*
Arms Control for the Third Nuclear Age performs a valuable service
to scholars and policy makers alike by excavating the record of
U.S.-Soviet arms control during the Cold War and examining it under
the light of current circumstances.
*H-Diplo*
Arms Control for the Third Nuclear Age focuses on the importance of
reviving arms control to enhance strategic stability in the context
of a dangerous new nuclear age. Cooper makes a strong case for
revisiting the Cold War-era arms control negoti- ations and
agreements: these episodes provide important insights for
‘navigating an uncontrolled arms race between major nuclear
rivals’
*International Affairs*
Cooper masterfully blends international-relations theories with a
historical account of efforts to achieve nuclear arms control
during the Cold War. This book is political-science research at its
best.
*The Nonproliferation Review*
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