4.2.5 The Arms Race and Threat of Nuclear War
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4.2.5 The Arms Race and the Threat of Nuclear War
The July 24th, 1946 Baker Test on Bikini Atoll. Photo by William Burr.
©Colorized courtesy of National Nuclear Security Administration/Nevada
Field Office
Deterrence was a strategy used by both superpowers during the Cold War. Each country threatened serious retaliation if it was attacked. The deterrence theory held that neither would attack first if they were afraid of the repercussions.
Various actions can be used to deter nations from making the first strike. Threat of economic sanctions and conventional warfare can deter others. Weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, are a key component in the strategy of deterrence.
Mutually assured destruction was an important aspect of deterrence during the Cold War. Both the United States and the Soviet Union knew that, if one nation used a nuclear bomb on the other, retaliation would include a reciprocal nuclear attack that would ensure the destruction of both nations-and possibly the entire world. They were not prepared to risk a full-scale nuclear war.
Various actions can be used to deter nations from making the first strike. Threat of economic sanctions and conventional warfare can deter others. Weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, are a key component in the strategy of deterrence.
Mutually assured destruction was an important aspect of deterrence during the Cold War. Both the United States and the Soviet Union knew that, if one nation used a nuclear bomb on the other, retaliation would include a reciprocal nuclear attack that would ensure the destruction of both nations-and possibly the entire world. They were not prepared to risk a full-scale nuclear war.
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"Arms Race-Cold War", MIX iT, You-tube
Nuclear Proliferation
The first and only nuclear weapons ever used in the history of warfare were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, by the United States near the end of World War II. The bombs led to the surrender of Japan and the end of World War II in Asia.
Within the first two to four months of the bombings, the acute effects killed somewhere between 150 and 240 thousand people, with half the deaths occurring on the first day of the bombing and the remainder occurring later from effects of the bomb, radiation sickness, and other injuries. Later, more have died from various kinds of cancers attributed to exposure to radiation released by the bombs. After seeing the devastating potential of nuclear weapons, both the United States and the Soviet Union built and stockpiled nuclear weapons.
At the height of the arms race, the two superpowers owned tens of thousands of nuclear weapons with the power to kill every person in the world many times over.
The image to the right is a poster from the former Soviet Union produced during the Cold War; it states, "Better off proactive today than radioactive tomorrow."
Although both the Soviets and the Americans were developing more powerful nuclear weapons, both sides blamed the other for the arms race and publicly advocated for disarmament, or a reduction in the arms build-up. Apparently, what they meant by "disarmament" was for the other side to disarm while they continued to create their own weapons!
Within the first two to four months of the bombings, the acute effects killed somewhere between 150 and 240 thousand people, with half the deaths occurring on the first day of the bombing and the remainder occurring later from effects of the bomb, radiation sickness, and other injuries. Later, more have died from various kinds of cancers attributed to exposure to radiation released by the bombs. After seeing the devastating potential of nuclear weapons, both the United States and the Soviet Union built and stockpiled nuclear weapons.
At the height of the arms race, the two superpowers owned tens of thousands of nuclear weapons with the power to kill every person in the world many times over.
The image to the right is a poster from the former Soviet Union produced during the Cold War; it states, "Better off proactive today than radioactive tomorrow."
Although both the Soviets and the Americans were developing more powerful nuclear weapons, both sides blamed the other for the arms race and publicly advocated for disarmament, or a reduction in the arms build-up. Apparently, what they meant by "disarmament" was for the other side to disarm while they continued to create their own weapons!
"Better Off Proactive Today Than Reactive Tomorrow" ©Sovietposters.com
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"The Terrifying True Scale of Nuclear Weapons", RealLifeLore, You-tube
Deterrence Today
Both the United States and the Russian Federation continue to own nuclear weapons. France, Great Britain, and China also own nuclear weapons. These five countries have all signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, an agreement in which they agree to work towards disarmament and use nuclear technology only for peaceful means. India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea also have "the bomb", but none have signed the non-proliferation treaty.In today's world, the build-up of nuclear weapons in North Korea is an example of deterrence. North Korea is a small, poverty-stricken communist dictatorship with a terrible human rights record. North Korea also has tested nuclear weapons. Because of the threat that the North Koreans might use their nuclear power to attack, other nations may hesitate to use any kind of action against them.
Watch this review video of the Arms Race during the Cold War.
"The Doomsday Clock is Ticking!-Cold War Arms Race", It's History, You-tube
Watch this video on how the Cold War arms race led to weapons of mass destruction.
"Weapons of Mass Destruction/The Cold War", It's History, You-tube
Read the following from your text Perspectives on Ideology.
- Robert McNamara's speech about mutual deterrence on page 252
- "Cold War Hysteria" on pages 261 to 262
- "The Threat of Nuclear War" on pages 263 to 264