The Evolution of Nuclear Strategy quickly established itself as a classic when it first
appeared in 1981. This edition makes it even better incorporating as it does new material
about the Cold War and up-dating to include subsequent developments. Filled with insights and
penetrating analysis this volume is truly indispensable. -Robert Jervis Author of How
Statesmen Think Freedman and Michaels have written a thorough and thought-provoking guide to
nuclear strategy. The authors analyze the causes of both wise and unwise strategic decisions in
the past and thereby shine a bright light on dilemmas we face in our common nuclear future.
-Scott Sagan Stanford University USA With its comprehensive coverage clear and direct
language and judicious summaries of a vast literature this new and wholly revised edition of
The Evolution of Nuclear Strategywill be essential reading for any student of nuclear history
strategic studies or contemporary international relations. -Matthew Jones London School of
Economics and Political Science UK Sir Lawrence Freedman's The Evolution of Nuclear Strategy
has been the first port of call for three generations of academics and policy-makers wanting to
familiarize themselves with the subject matter. The success of this book could have led
Professor Freedman to satisfy himself with regular updates or afterwords. But the tireless
author is now gracing us with an entirely revised edition of his masterpiece nearly forty years
after its initial publication taking into account findings from archives and declassified
documents. At the same time The Evolution of Nuclear Strategy remains true to its original
purpose and spirit: an easy to read manual light with footnotes focusing on policy rather
than on theory and thus the best possible introduction to an arcane subject. In an era when
nuclear strategy issues seem to be becoming relevant again its historical scope and breadth
will make its reading or re-reading even more useful - if only because knowing about the
absurdity of the Cold war arms race is a prerequisite if one does not want to repeat its
mistakes. -Bruno Tertrais Deputy Director Fondation pour la Recherche Stratégique France
This updated and improved edition of the classic text on the evolution of nuclear strategy is a
must read for anyone attempting to understand the nuclear predicament and where it is heading.
Impressive in every respect! -T.V. Paul James McGill Professor of International Relations
McGill University Canada and the author of The Traditon of Non-Use of Nuclear Weapons After
the end of the Cold War we hoped for a world in which nuclear weapons would have 'low
salience' or might even disappear into virtual non-assembled arsenals. Alas they are coming
to the fore again. With changes in political context and technology it is thus pressing that
'the Bible' on the Evolution of Nuclear Strategy should be updated. Lawrence Freedman's great
classic has been admirably updated with the help of Jeff Michaels. The work just as its
previous editions thus remains the definitive and authoritative point of reference on nuclear
strategy in the twenty-first century. -Beatrice Heuser Chair of International Relations
University of Glasgow Scotland First published in 1981 Lawrence Freedman's The Evolution of
Nuclear Strategy was immediately acclaimed as the standard work on the history of attempts to
cope militarily and politically with the terrible destructive power of nuclear weapons. It has
now be
