Abstract:

The Theory of the Nuclear Revolution (TNR) was developed during the Cold War and become something of a conventional wisdom among academics.  Over the past decade, TNR has be criticized from multiple directions.  What is its current status?

Bio:

Charles Glaser is a Senior Fellow in the MIT Security Studies Program.  His research focuses on international relations theory and international security policy, including U.S. policy toward China, nuclear weapons policy, and U.S. energy security. 

His books include Rational Theory of International Politics (2010) and Analyzing Strategic Nuclear Policy (1990); co-edited Managing U.S. Nuclear Operations in the 21st Century (2022) and Crude Strategy (2016).  Articles on China in the journal International Security, include “How Much Risk Should the United States Run in the South China Sea,” (Fall 2022); “Should the United States Reject MAD? Damage Limitation and U.S. Nuclear Strategy toward China,” (Summer 2016), and “A U.S.-China Grand Bargain? The Hard Choice between Military Competition and Accommodation,” (Spring 2015).

Glaser holds a Ph.D. and M.P.P. from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, a B.S. in Physics from MIT, and an M.A. in Physics from Harvard. He was a Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at George Washington University, where was the Founding Director of the Elliott School's Institute for Security and Conflict Studies.  Before GW, Glaser was the Emmett Dedmon Professor of Public Policy and Deputy Dean at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. He has also taught political science at the University of Michigan, was a research associate at the Center for International Studies at MIT, a visiting fellow at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford, and a fellow in the Kissinger Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He has served on the Joint Staff in the Pentagon and was a peace fellow at the United States Institute of Peace.  In 2018 he was awarded the International Studies Association, Security Studies Section, Distinguished Scholar Award. In 2021 he was awarded the National Academy of Sciences’ William and Katherine Estes Award for behavior research toward the prevention of nuclear war. More detailed biographical information available at: www.charlesglaser.com