Of arms control, summit meetings, and the politics of make-believe

Alex Alexiev

Expert InsightsPublished 1985

This paper argues that arms control negotiations and summit meetings are a dangerous panacea because they do not achieve the goals commonly claimed for them: (1) alleviate tension and contribute to international peace and security; (2) create a climate of trust and cooperation between the superpowers; and (3) slow down and even reverse the arms race. The author blames a fundamental misperception of the nature of the Soviet system and particularly its definition of security and the role of military power for this unwarranted emphasis on negotiations and summit meetings. He argues that, because of Soviet systemic insecurity, the mere existence of the Western alternative presents a security threat to the Soviet system, and that a stable security relationship with the Soviet Union can and should be achieved, but is only possible based on a strong U.S. defense capability.

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Alexiev, Alex, Of arms control, summit meetings, and the politics of make-believe. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1985. https://www.rand.org/pubs/papers/P7049.html.
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