Avoiding Nuclear War: A RAND Research Approach and Agenda

Mark A. Lorell, Nanette C. Gantz

ResearchPublished 1985

This Note describes and assesses current research on the avoidance of nuclear war and outlines an overall research approach to the problem. This approach seeks to identify the basic issues emerging in the current debate and to define a research agenda suitable for addressing those issues. Three areas of disagreement persist among analysts considering the problem of nuclear war: (1) the paths to war, (2) the effect of nuclear weapons on the role of war in international relations, and (3) the objectives of escalation control and management. The authors propose that the analytic framework for studying these issues should encompass the entire escalation process, beginning with peace and moving to the level of massive nuclear exchanges. Their initial examination of the escalation process suggests that the effectiveness of different management measures may vary considerably depending on the intent of the actors, the accuracy of their assessments, and the stages of the situation in the escalation process.

Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Web-Only
  • Year: 1985
  • Paperback Pages: 24
  • Document Number: N-2338-RC

Citation

RAND Style Manual
Lorell, Mark A. and Nanette C. Gantz, Avoiding Nuclear War: A RAND Research Approach and Agenda, RAND Corporation, N-2338-RC, 1985. As of September 19, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/notes/N2338.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Lorell, Mark A. and Nanette C. Gantz, Avoiding Nuclear War: A RAND Research Approach and Agenda. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1985. https://www.rand.org/pubs/notes/N2338.html.
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