Contributions

  • Rand Corporation. - Contributor
  • Rand/UCLA Center for the Study of Soviet International Behavior. - Contributor

Publication

1989 - Rand, Santa Monica, CA, California

Language

English

Word Count

25,000 words, Guess

Page Count

100 pages

Identifiers

  • ISBN-100833009532
  • ISBN-139780833009531
  • Library of Congress Control Number89004022
  • Open LibraryOL2186019M

Classifications

  • DDC355.02/17
  • LCCU263 .D39 1989

Description

First-strike stability depends on the improbability of crises and the improbability that crises would result in first strikes. This study focuses on the latter criterion, which in turn depends on crisis decisionmaking by human beings. The report argues that efforts to understand and improve first-strike stability should be guided by a formal theory of human decisionmaking that accounts for behavioral factors such as mindset, desperation, fatalism, perceptions, and fears. The author identifies three principal mechanisms for improving first-strike stability: (1) improve force-posture stability; (2) review and adjust nuclear policies and doctrine, and the way they are discussed; and (3) improve the likely quality of crisis decisionmaking through efforts involving education, exercises, and staffing.

Subjects

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