Theories of Thermo-Nuclear Deterrence

Abstract

A considerable number of books about military strategy and the supposedly scientific techniques of war-gaming have been published in the last three years, mainly in the United States but also in the Soviet Union. The appearance of this literature has provoked a great deal of critical comment and expert assessment, but none of it has come from socialist sources. Considering the influential status of this strategic writing and the new modes of thinking about war and peace problems that it has stimulated, this omission of socialist concern has been widely regretted. It has been popular on the Left but not particularly appropriate to dismiss the new theorists of war-gaming as apolitical engineers, recherche! capitalist apologists, or power-drunk Ph.D.s in search of clever solutions to the Cold War. Unfortunately, the disadvantage of this rejection has been doubled-edged. First, it has concealed from socialist readers the sophisticated tone of the strategic literature and the great political influence achieved by the New Civilian Militarists. Second, it has deflected socialist theory from seeking an equal competence and technical mastery over the intricate problems of war and peace. As a result, the Left has been unable to challenge the deterrence strategists on their own ground, and it has been unable to formulate its own strategic proposals with systematic rigour. In short, the idealistic-if not pacifist-posture of the Left has excluded it from the scientific debates over the Balance of Terror and the technical obstacles encountered on the road to disarmament.