In this book, Dr Christoph Bluth presents an original analysis of the build up of strategic forces from the death of Stalin to the SALT I agreement. The author outlines Soviet strategic arms policy, he identifies the principal interest groups involved and he studies a number of critical decisions taken in relation to strategic bombers, ICBMs, strategic nuclear forces based at sea, ballistic missile defence and the military uses of space. Strategic arms policy in the Khrushchev period exhibited a number of apparent paradoxes, which the author explains. As well as examining external threat assessment and wider foreign policy, he pays particular attention to the role of domestic factors such as Khrushchev's endeavours to shift resource away from military industries to agriculture and consumer goods production. The author is therefore able to demonstrate how domestic priorities and internal power struggles account for the seeming inconsistencies of Soviet military and foreign policy.

In this book Dr Christoph Bluth presents an original analysis of the build up of Soviet strategic forces from the death of Stalin to the SALT I agreement.
Reviews
"A work of enduring value..." Choice
"...a useful addition to the growing body of work on the postwar conduct of the USSR in this important area; and until Western access to Soviet archives improves, it is likely to remain one of the better and more informed analyses available." Coit D. Blacker, American Political Science Review
"...provides valuable insights on the factors which influenced policy formation and Khrushchev's attempt to use Soviet military forces for political ends....Overall, Bluth has made a valuable contribution to our understanding of Soviet strategic weapons thinking and policy, particularly during the Khrushchev years. The study will be of value not only to scholars and students of Soviet strategic policy, but also to a wider range of scholars and students interested in Soviet politics during this period." James Fergusson, Canadian Slavonic Papers



Book Information
ISBN 9780521403726
Author Christoph Bluth
Format Hardback
Page Count 332
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 660g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 152mm * 22mm