Abstract
Beukel, E. Soviet Views on Strategic Nuclear Weapons: Orthodoxy and Modernism. Cooperation and Conflict, XIV, 1979, 223-237.
A controversial question in deterrence theories is Soviet perception of strategic nuclear weapons. Various research communities and political groups state very divergent theories and opinions, which are substantiated by quotations from Soviet public writings. In the present paper views given in the Soviet press are analyzed. It is shown that these professed views are rather divergent and follow an orthodoxy-modernism dichotomy. Since there is no public debate among the advocates of the different views, Soviet writings have to be regarded with caution. Certain writings may support very different conclusions about the Soviet perception of strategic nuclear weapons.
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