International Security – Understanding War and Peace

Chapter 3, “Nuclear Weapons,” by Michael C. Horowitz

This chapter covers nuclear weapons, the most destructive and politically significant weapons ever developed, combining history, science, theory, and policy. Students will learn about the development of the first nuclear weapon in the Manhattan Project, and the development of Cold War nuclear arsenals, including modern means of weapons delivery. They will be introduced to core concepts of nuclear deterrence, nuclear coercion, arms control, and stability theory. The chapter presents an extensive discussion of nuclear proliferation, why states acquire nuclear weapons, is nuclear proliferation fundamentally stabilizing or dangerous, and what kinds of policies can slow proliferation and make it safer. The chapter includes a case study on the critical question of nuclear weapons and North Korea, and a summary of a quantitative study examining whether alliances can prevent proliferation.

Most appropriate for classes on war and politics and US foreign policy

Why this chapter is different:

●Comprehensive treatment of all issues pertinent to nuclear weapons in a compact, readable essay
●Integrated discussion of nuclear history, theory, and policy
●Case study applying chapter insights to North Korea

Dr. Michael C. Horowitz is Professor of Political Science and Associate Director of the Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of several leading articles on nuclear weapons, as well as the award-winning The Diffusion of Military Power (Princeton, 2010).

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Drone strikes have become America’s principal weapon in its war on terror, and have been increasingly embraced by other countries as well as insurgent groups like the Islamic State. This chapter covers drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, as weapons of war. It first describes how drone technology evolved. It then moves to the contemporary context, detailing how the United States uses drones for counterterrorism in ways that have transformed the battlefield and spurred interest in drone acquisition by others. This chapter takes stock of how drones change the way war is fought, whether drone strikes are legal, ethical, and effective, what drone proliferation means for regional and international security, how drones affect the democratic conduct of war, and the future of drone warfare. The chapter addresses these questions with a case study of drone strikes in Pakistan and a summary of a quantitative study that evaluates the effectiveness of drone strikes.

Most appropriate for classes on war and politics, international security, and US foreign policy.

Why this chapter is different:

●Only analysis of drone warfare that incorporates current scholarly analysis and targets undergraduate readers
●Case study that applies insights to a specific context of Pakistan, the location where the United States has engaged in the most drone strikes
●Relevance to ongoing policy debates about perpetual war, the separation of powers in wartime, and effective counterterrorism strategy

Dr. Sarah Kreps is Associate Professor of Government and Adjunct Professor of Law at Cornell University. She is the author of several books, including Drone Warfare (Polity Press, 2014; with John Kaag) and Drones: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford University Press, 2016).

Category: International Security

Chapter 3, “Nuclear Weapons”

Chapter 10, “Drone Warfare,” by Sarah Kreps