Closing Pandora's Box: Arms Race, Arms Control and the History of the Cold War

This history of arms control in the 20th century challenges the liberal-pacifist view of international relations, and explains the Cold War from a post-Cold War perspective, untangling the complex realities of 20th-century diplomacy, and analyzing the major crises and wars. It re-evaluates the successes and failures of democratic statesmen in the light of the Cold War's ultimate outcome.

A Reagan-era special assistant to the director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency argues that the pursuit of arms-control agreements has historically coincided with periods of weakness and self-doubt in America. After WW I, according to Glynn, the idea took hold that the conflict had resulted from a prewar "arms race" and that the key to peace lay in disarmament. In his view, liberal-pacifist assumptions blinded Western leaders to the growing threat of Nazi Germany in the 1930s and, during WW II, to the dangers posed by the Soviet Union. Similarly, in the 1970s, totalitarian states interpreted as weakness U.S. officials' eagerness to sign arms agreements. President Reagan, reacting to the deterioration of the defense establishment, restricted trade with the Soviets, launched a massive military buildup and deployed U.S. forces around the world. At the same time, Glynn stresses, he laid the groundwork behind the scenes for a better relationship with the Soviets. Controversial and well argued.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The author, a member of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency during the Reagan administration, argues that the "Great Debate" in Western democracies has been over how to deal with war and armaments, and that confrontations have occurred when the democracies were perceived as weak. Arms races do not directly lead to war but might perhaps help prevent it, he contends; misguided arms control efforts can have unintended and dangerous consequences. Glynn's examination of such events as World War I, the Munich Agreement, and the Cuban Missile Crisis makes it clear that he favors cold-blooded realism backed by superior armed forces in American foreign policy. He considers Ronald Reagan a hero for pushing strategies that were opposed by the arms control establishment but that the author believes helped destroy Communist power. This conservative interpretation of 20th-century world history provides an interesting alternative to standard arms control texts. Recommended for academic and large public librareis.
- Daniel K. Blewett, Loyola Univ. Lib., Chicago
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.