26 Questions
What is the assumption in much of the literature on nuclear deterrence?
Nuclear weapons deter both nuclear and conventional conflict
What is the main difference between regional nuclear powers and the US-USSR in terms of their nuclear forces?
The financial and technical limits of their nuclear forces
What is the focus of Narang's research on regional nuclear powers?
How to allocate nuclear forces for deterrence against both conventional and nuclear opponents
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of regional nuclear powers?
They have thousands of nuclear warheads
What is the central question of Narang's research?
What kind of nuclear force deters conventional conflict with both conventional and nuclear opponents?
What is the primary factor that distinguishes different nuclear postures?
The primary envisioned employment
According to Narang, what is the consequence of having a catalytic posture?
It renders the threat of nuclear use very low in most realistic conventional scenarios
What is the goal of an assured retaliation posture?
To deter nuclear use
What is the effect of asymmetric escalation on the space for conflict?
It compresses the space for conflict
What is the relationship between a state's nuclear posture and the credibility of its threat to use nuclear weapons?
A state's nuclear posture determines the credibility of its threat to use nuclear weapons
What is the role of third-party intervention in a catalytic posture?
It depends on the chance of third-party intervention
What is the concept of 'general nuclear compellence' according to Anderson et al?
The use of nuclear weapons to coerce an adversary into taking a specific action
According to Narang 2015, what drives states' choice of nuclear postures?
The internal politics and civil-military relations of the state
What is the 'stability-instability paradox' in the context of deterrence theory?
A situation where a state's nuclear arsenal makes it less likely to be attacked by another state, but more likely to engage in conventional conflicts
What is the main difference between 'nuclear posture' and 'nuclear strategy'?
Nuclear posture refers to the overall nuclear policy of a state, while nuclear strategy refers to the specific plans for its use
What is 'existential deterrence'?
The concept that the mere existence of nuclear weapons is enough to deter an adversary from taking any action
What is the main goal of 'immediate compellence'?
To coerce an adversary into taking a specific action
What is the military imbalance between Israel and its Arab neighbors, and how does it affect Israel's security situation?
The Arab states exceed Israel's military capabilities nearly tenfold and more than double Israel's military spending, leading to a 'grim security situation' for Israel.
What kind of security guarantees did Israel repeatedly request from Washington, and what was the response?
Israel requested formal security guarantees akin to those extended to NATO allies, but was regularly turned down.
What public statement did President Kennedy make about the US commitment to Israel's security, and what did it signify?
President Kennedy publicly stated that the US had a 'deep commitment to the security of Israel', signifying a symbolic but non-binding commitment.
How did Israel's nuclearization affect the risks of nuclear escalation in the Middle East?
It raised the risks of nuclear escalation in the Middle East if Washington maintained its standoffish position and Israel were left on its own.
What was the primary concern of the United States regarding Israel's security?
The maintenance of a stable, US-friendly Middle East.
What was the outcome of the increased material commitments to Israeli security by the United States?
Peace with Egypt followed, with Nasser reportedly alluding to the importance of nuclear weapons in his decision to improve relations with Israel.
By what year was Israel widely considered a nuclear-weapons state?
May 1967
How did the United States' position on Israel's security change over time?
The US rapidly increased its material commitments to Israeli security, moving away from a previously 'equidistant' position.
According to historian Avner Cohen, what was the primary driver of the change in US security commitment to Israel?
Israeli nuclear acquisition
Assess your understanding of nuclear posture, balance of forces, and nuclear danger. Discuss the concepts of general nuclear compellence and the drivers of states' nuclear postures. Apply these concepts to real-world scenarios, including Iran.
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