Strategic Conflict Without Nuclear Weapons
ResearchPublished 1983
The thesis of this report is that nuclear-armed states in conflict will increasingly have both the incentives and the means for attacking an enemy's sources of power without resorting to nuclear weapons. That thesis is developed by examining trends in the destructiveness of current nuclear arsenals, the vulnerabilities of modern societies, the pace of warfare, and the available technologies for nonnuclear weaponry. Separate chapters address the technical feasibility, the military significance and utility, and the policy implications of nonnuclear weapons as replacements for nuclear weapons in pursuit of most strategic objectives in a conflict. The author finds that even contemplating strategic conflicts without nuclear weapons is an effective way to expose weaknesses and lapses in current arms control and alliance policies.
Related Content
Document Details
- Copyright: RAND Corporation
- Availability: Web Only
- Year: 1983
- Pages: 76
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.7249/pubs
- Document Number: R-2980-FF/RC
Citation
RAND Style Manual
Builder, Carl H., Strategic Conflict Without Nuclear Weapons, RAND Corporation, R-2980-FF/RC, 1983. As of July 15, 2026: https://www.rand.org/pubs/reports/R2980.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Builder, Carl H., Strategic Conflict Without Nuclear Weapons. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 1983. https://www.rand.org/pubs/reports/R2980.html.
This publication is part of the RAND report series. The report series, a product of RAND from 1948 to 1993, represented the principal publication documenting and transmitting RAND's major research findings and final research.
This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.
RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.