Avoiding Armageddon
Canadian Military Strategy and Nuclear Weapons, 1950-1963
Will be published approx. on 1. July 2003
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-0-7748-0889-7 (ISBN)
Description
The advent of nuclear weapons in the 1940s brought enormous changes to doctrines regarding the use of force in resolving disputes. American strategists have been widely credited with most of these; Canadians, most have assumed, did not conduct their own strategic analysis. Avoiding Armageddon soundly debunks this notion.
Drawing on previously classified government records, Richter reveals that Canadian defence officials did come to independent strategic understandings of the most critical issues of the nuclear age. Canadian appreciation of deterrence, arms control, and strategic stability differed conceptually from the US models. Similarly, Canadian thinking on the controversial issues of air defence and the domestic acquisition of nuclear weapons was primarily influenced by decidedly Canadian interests.
Avoiding Armageddon is a work with far-reaching implications. It illustrates Canada's considerable latitude for independent defence thinking while providing key historical information that helps make sense of the contemporary Canadian defence debate.
Drawing on previously classified government records, Richter reveals that Canadian defence officials did come to independent strategic understandings of the most critical issues of the nuclear age. Canadian appreciation of deterrence, arms control, and strategic stability differed conceptually from the US models. Similarly, Canadian thinking on the controversial issues of air defence and the domestic acquisition of nuclear weapons was primarily influenced by decidedly Canadian interests.
Avoiding Armageddon is a work with far-reaching implications. It illustrates Canada's considerable latitude for independent defence thinking while providing key historical information that helps make sense of the contemporary Canadian defence debate.
Reviews / Votes
Avoiding Armageddon is a well-researched study using recently released archival material that examines, in the defence and security context a very turbulent period in Canada's history. Richter's study ... is well-written, easy to understand, and logically organized ... Reading this book is time well spent. - Major J.C. Stone (Canadian Military Journal, Spring 2003)More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Vancouver
Canada
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 226 mm
Width: 150 mm
Thickness: 13 mm
Weight
320 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7748-0889-7 (9780774808897)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Andrew Richter is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science, University of Windsor.
Content
Preface
Introduction
1 The Defence and Security Environment, 1945-9
2 Canada's Air Defence Debate
3 Canadian Views on Nuclear Weapons and Related Issues of Strategy
4 The Canadian Debate on the Acquisition of Nuclear Weapons
5 Canadian Conceptual Understanding of Arms Control
6 Links between Canadian Strategic Thinking and Defence Policy, 1950-63
Conclusion
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index
Introduction
1 The Defence and Security Environment, 1945-9
2 Canada's Air Defence Debate
3 Canadian Views on Nuclear Weapons and Related Issues of Strategy
4 The Canadian Debate on the Acquisition of Nuclear Weapons
5 Canadian Conceptual Understanding of Arms Control
6 Links between Canadian Strategic Thinking and Defence Policy, 1950-63
Conclusion
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index