The Fragile Balance of Terror: Deterrence in the New Nuclear Age

by Vipin Narang (Editor), Scott D. Sagan (Editor)

In The Fragile Balance of Terror , the foremost experts on nuclear policy and strategy offer insight into an era rife with more nuclear powers. Some of these new powers suffer domestic instability, others are led by pathological personalist dictators, and many are situated in highly unstable regions of the world―a volatile mix of variables. The increasing fragility of deterrence in the twenty-first century is created by a confluence of military technologies that create vulnerable arsenals, a novel information ecosystem that rapidly transmits both information and misinformation, nuclear rivalries that include three or more nuclear powers, and dictatorial decision making that encourages rash choices. The nuclear threats posed by India, Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea are thus fraught with danger. The Fragile Balance of Terror , edited by Vipin Narang and Scott D. Sagan, brings together a diverse collection of rigorous and creative scholars who analyze how the nuclear landscape is changing for the worse. Scholars, pundits, and policymakers who think that the spread of nuclear weapons can create stable forms of nuclear deterrence in the future will be forced to think again. Giles David Arceneaux, Mark S. Bell, Christopher Clary, Peter D. Feaver, Jeffrey Lewis, Rose McDermott, Nicholas L. Miller, Vipin Narang, Ankit Panda, Scott D. Sagan, Caitlin Talmadge, Heather Williams, Amy Zegart

Genres: Political Science

270 pages, Hardcover

Published January 15, 2023

Reviews

[Ariel Karn · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Deterrence in the new nuclear age” is my jam and so I did hella enjoy this book. Some of the chapter I read very thoroughly and more than twice (but that is also because I like to map). In this one book you will learn variety of topics and issues under the challenges posted in the new nuclear era. Some are new topics, some are old topics being put in different arguments/perspective - new nuclear era perspective.

However, some chapters are a bit repetitive (not sure if I use the right word) with what’s already out there. But to be fair, these authors are legends and were the person writing about those original works so I believe they get and deserve to preach it as many times as they like - it’s their studies.

Therefore, I will go ahead and say it that if you are really into the new nuclear age issues then I highly recommend the Daedalus (Spring 2020). And perhaps just look all the authors in this book up and read their previous works (they are also mostly cited in the beginning of most articles already, very easy to spot).

And yes I am giving it 5 stars. It’s a good book but I’m also bias because I love books with the “New Nuclear Age” on/in it, it sparks joy - especially when in there has the term “escalation” and “multipolarity” on repeat. It is something I cannot do when the writing (review) is more serious so please let me have it.

[Shae C R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of articles on challenges to nuclear policy and strategy in the emerging new nuclear age. Questioning the theoretical foundations of classical “nuclear balance” and “nuclear stability” in the face of contemporary issues, the book examines why deterrence is bound to be more precarious in the future.

Read more: https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2023-...