Arms Races: Technological and Political Dynamics (International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO)) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0803982216 ISBN 13: 9780803982215

Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd, 1989

Synopsis

A long tradition of theoretical and empirical work has been devoted to the question of the driving forces in the arms race since the 1960s. This book takes up the internal factors of arms dynamics, such as bureaucratic politics, interservice rivalry, and the military-industrial complex, as well as external factors such as interactive arms dynamics between the two superpowers.

It also deals with the question of technological determinism - the ideas that what is technically possible will be done as opposed to the idea that `politics is in command′. Finally, factors in the international system affecting arms races are also examined, such as long economic waves and power transitions.

About this title

Review

`This is a worthwhile volume because it (a) makes more accessible perspectives from Northern Europe, providing a counterpoint to viewpoints shaped in the United States; (b)presents a number of informative studies of internal sources of militarism, arms build-ups and weapons acquisitions; and (c) raises provocative, important issues in methodology and knowledge acquisition. Clearly, this collection warrants consideraion by serious students of arms races' - Armed Forces and Society

`A combination of theory, empirical data, and comparative analysis, this book is a must for every person interested in the arms race.' - Charles C Moskos

`Taken together, the volume appears to exhaust the field of possible alternative explanations of the armaments dynamics, in addition to which it contains a comprehensive bibliography.' - Non-Offensive Defence

`There is a need for a book that pulls the subject together, and anyone wanting to get access to the state of the art could not do better than to start with this one. It gives a thoughtful, wide-rangingg and constructive criticism of the whole attempt to understand arms racing.... It should be particularly welcome to those seeking a way into a large and scattered literature, and to those trying to find coherent teaching material.' - International Relations and Organizations

`The Gleditsch introductory overview is extremely useful....an extremely useful collection of papers on a topic which is likely, unfortunately, to be of enduring interest. - Pacific Research an extremely useful collection of papers on a topic which is likely, unfortunately, to be of enduring interet. - Pacific Research

Edition details

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 1989
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0803982216
• ISBN 13: 9780803982215
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 432
• Editor: Gleditsch Nils Petter, Njolstad Olav