Neoclassical Realism and the Underdevelopment of China's Nuclear Doctrine

This book addresses the under-researched discourse of the evolution of Chinese nuclear posture, and in particular, explains the absence from this evolution of a coherent and well-defined operational doctrine. Using a neoclassical realist framework, the book explains why China, after having launched a crash programme in the mid-1950s to develop a nuclear deterrent, did not debate a clear operational doctrine with respect to targeting and employment until the mid-1980s.

List of contents

1. Introduction: Competing explanations for the underdevelopment of China's nuclear doctrine.- 2. A neoclassical realist approach to military doctrines.- 3. China's nuclear programme: Origins and progress.- 4. Nuclear doctrine as a continuation of factional politics by other means, 1964-1971.- 5. Elite stability and nuclear doctrine formulation, 1978-1989.- 6. Conclusions.

About the author

Paolo Rosa is Professor of Political Science at the School of International Studies of the University of Trento, Italy. He is an associate of the EU Non-proliferation Consortium. His main research interests include Foreign Policy Analysis, Italian Foreign and Military Behaviour, Chinese Politics, Strategic Culture, Quantitative Analysis of Conflicts, and Peace Research.

Product details

• Authors: Paolo Rosa
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 20.04.2018
• EAN: 9783319786391
• ISBN: 978-3-31-978639-1
• No. of pages: 167
• Dimensions: 156 mm x 221 mm x 12 mm
• Weight: 330 g
• Illustrations: IX, 167 p. 1 illus.
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Comparative and international political science; Asien, C, Peace, Krieg und Verteidigung, Politik und Staat, Conflict Studies, Friedens- und Konfliktforschung, Asia, International Relations, foreign policy, Politics & government, Warfare & defence, Political Science and International Studies, International Relations Theory, Peace studies & conflict resolution, International Security Studies, Asia—Politics and government, Asian Politics, Security, International, Politics and war, Military and Defence Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies