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Lecture 11

The document discusses nuclear weapons, nuclear parity, and nuclear deterrence. It defines nuclear weapons and their types, and describes nuclear stockpiles. It explains the concepts of nuclear parity and what is required for credible nuclear deterrence. It also outlines different theories of nuclear deterrence and discusses whether parity is needed for deterrence.

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29 views15 pages

Lecture 11

The document discusses nuclear weapons, nuclear parity, and nuclear deterrence. It defines nuclear weapons and their types, and describes nuclear stockpiles. It explains the concepts of nuclear parity and what is required for credible nuclear deterrence. It also outlines different theories of nuclear deterrence and discusses whether parity is needed for deterrence.

Uploaded by

adil0938
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lecture # 10

Defence & Strategic Studies

Muhammad Jawad Hashmi


Topics of Discussion
• Nuclear Parity / deterrence
– What are nuclear weapons?
• Types & Process
• Nuclear stockpiles
– What is nuclear Parity?
– What is Nuclear Deterrence?
• Credible Nuclear Deterrence
• Types of Nuclear Deterrence
Nuclear Weapons
• Nuclear weapons are the most
dangerous weapons on earth. One
can destroy a whole city, potentially
killing millions, and jeopardizing the
natural environment and lives of
future generations through its long-
term catastrophic effects.
• Used only once In Hiroshima and
Nagasaki in 1945
• About 22,000 reportedly remain in
our world today and there have
been over 2,000 nuclear tests
conducted to date
According to US Department of Energy
Nuclear Weapons
• A nuclear weapon is a weapon that suddenly releases
the energy in the nucleus of certain types of atoms.
When triggered, these devices release a huge amount
of energy in the form of a nuclear explosion.
• There are two ways to make nuclear weapons:
– Fission weapons (also called atomic bombs or A-Bomb)
• Fission weapons use a special isotope of uranium or plutonium.
– Fusion weapons (also called hydrogen bombs, H-Bomb or
thermonuclear weapons)
• Fusion weapons make bigger explosions. Fusion weapons use a
special isotope of hydrogen.
Fission & Fusion
Gun-type design (HEU)
Implosion design (plutonium or HEU)

Nuclear Weapons Process


1. Fission
2. Fusion
3. Boosted fission weapon
4. Neutron bomb
5. Radiological bomb
Nuclear Parity
• A condition at a given point in time when opposing forces possess
nuclear offensive and defensive systems approximately equal in overall
combat effectiveness.
• Balance of Power = nuclear Parity?
• Is Nuclear Parity required for nuclear deterrence? Yes! or NO!
• Achieve Numeric Superiority
• Nuclear Weapons for Political Purpose or Military Purpose?
• Retaliatory Strike – second Response – Enough number of nuclear
weapons to eliminate adversary completely
– unacceptable damage in a retaliatory strike - the essence of the
concept of mutually assured destruction
– USSR made titanic efforts and achieved relative nuclear parity with
the USA in the early 1970s
– Arms Race & TNW
http://www.armscontrol.ru/start/publications/dkp0731.htm
Are nuclear weapons not weapons of war fighting?
Nuclear Deterrence
• Deterrence: Threat of Use of Force
• Nuclear Deterrence: Threat of Use of Nuclear Force
• Deterrence is a strategy intended to deter an adversary
from taking an action not yet started, or to prevent them
from doing something that another state desires.
• The use of the power to hurt as bargaining power is the
foundation of deterrence theory, and is most successful
when it is held in reserve
• Evolution
– International system after WWII
– South Asia – 1980’s
Credible Nuclear Deterrence
• A credible nuclear deterrent, must be always at the
ready, yet never used. (Bernard Brodie)
– Proportionality
– Reciprocity
– Coercive credibility
• Credibility of Nuclear Deterrence
– 2nd strike capability
– C4I2R (Command, Control, Computers, Communication,
Information, Intelligence, Reconnaissance)
• Credible Minimum Deterrence – Parity
Continuous
• Direct Deterrence: Preventing armed attack
against a country's own territory i.e. USA vs
USSR
• Extended Deterrence: Preventing armed
attack against the territory of another country
i.e. USA’s umbrella to Japan
• Immediate Deterrence: Using deterrence
against a short-term threat of attack i.e Cuban
Missile Crisis, Pak vs India
Types of Nuclear Deterrence
• Existential Deterrence Theory: Shared realization of massive attack
• Reassessed Deterrence Theory: Plans, Procedures and organization -
Dismantled weapons
• Classical Deterrence Theory/Rational Deterrence Theory: Strategic Parity
and Strategic Stability – BOP, Realpolitik – power politics – political Realism
– Equal Power distribution
– Structural Deterrence Theory: Systematic relations btw great powers is
maintained and costs of war are very high- Power= peace
– Decision Theoretic Deterrence Theory: Preferences, Choices, and
considering Miscalculations, Misperceptions and accidents
• Organization Deterrence theory – behavior pattern of professional
organizations (Military is important for stable deterrence)
• Perfect Deterrence Theory – Non-cooperative game theory approach –
Massive Retaliation/Flexible Response – Parity not Required – Minimum
Credible Deterrence required
Do you think this world is at Risk?

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