Surviving Nuclear War: U.S. Plans For Crisis Relocation

Abstract

As part of its developing strategy of nuclear deterrence-a strategy linking peace to the capacity for nuclear war fighting-the Reagan administration is placing great emphasis on "enhanced" forms of civil defense. Known as crisis relocation planning, these forms of civilian evacuation are expected to reduce the risk of a nuclear war, and to mitigate the consequences of such a war if deterrence fails. This paper suggests, however, that the administration's provocative redefinition of nuclear deterrence actually undermines strategic stability between the superpowers, and that it would do nothing to improve the prospects for human survival in the event of a nuclear war. The article concludes that the only reasonable strategy for the United States is to recognize our vulnerability to collective disintegration and to proceed from such recognition to meaningful attempts at arms control.