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Strategic Stability in a Deteriorating International Environment

Kokoshin A.A.,

Dean, School of World Politics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, from-kokoshin@yandex.ru

elibrary_id: 77052 |

DOI: 10.17976/jpps/2018.04.02

Rubric: Theme of the Issue: Stability and Transformation - Conflicting Imperatives of Contemporary Politics

For citation:

Kokoshin A.A. Strategic Stability in a Deteriorating International Environment. – Polis. Political Studies. 2018. No. 4. P. 7-21. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2018.04.02

Abstract

The paper examines the challenges of ensuring strategic stability in a deteriorating international environment characterized by the increasingly conflictual relations between the United States and Russia. The U.S. recent policies increased the likelihood of a direct military confrontation between the two powers and of highly dangerous and rapidly escalating events comparable with the Cuban Missile Crisis. The paper emphasizes the significance of nuclear proliferation challenges and their negative impact on the U.S.-Russia strategic balance. Global strategic stability has been also undermined by a rapid development of various disruptive technologies and weapon systems including cyberwarfare and space warfare capabilities. The erosion of strategic stability takes place against the background of an ongoing complex transition from a unipolar world order to multipolarity. In order to effectively address multidimensional challenges of ensuring and strengthening strategic stability scholars and policymakers alike should focus on the U.S.-Russia strategic nuclear balance while taking into account the impact of the strategic ballistic missile defense systems, strategic non-nuclear weapons and tactical nuclear weapons.

Keywords

strategic stability; escalation; crisis situations; strategic nuclear deterrence; strategic nonnuclear deterrence; arms control; arms reductions.

 Full Text

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