DOI: 10.7256/2454-0609.2017.6.23896

Abstract: The subject of this article is the stance of the academic community in the United States on the "Safeguard" anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system as formulated through the pertinent discussions on the pages of the specialized "Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists" journal in the late 1960s-early 1970s. The article reviews the opinions within the American scientific circle of the proponents and opponents of anti-ballistic missile defense, analyzes the pro et contra of the installation of the "Safeguard" system, and also demonstrates the interaction between the scientists and US politicians. As the main research method, the author chose to apply the comparative analysis approach to the works of the American scientists published in the "Bulletin" journal from 1969 to 1972. This article is the first research work in Russian historiography focused on the study of the archive of one of the biggest scientific-journalistic magazines published in the United States. The author clearly shows the mechanisms behind the emerging attitudes of the US scientific circle towards anti-ballistic missile defense. At the same time, the author demonstrates how the "Bulletin" became one of the tribunes of the anti-military movement in the scientific community.

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0609.2017.6.24343

Abstract: The article's research is focused on the reforms to the US National Security Council (NSC) carried out in the late 1960s by President Nixon's National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger. The author allocates special attention to the organization's role in the development of the United States' foregin policy, as well as its place in the consulting structure of the White House. The article examines in detail the changes made to the National Security Council's structure, introduced at the turn of the 1960s-1970s, with the aim of improving its efficiency. The methodological basis for this study is the historical-genetic approach and the descriptive method, which allow to describe in detail the history of the establishment and development of the National Security Council, as well as its reform under H. Kissinger. The study's novelty lies in its detailed analysis of the structural changes made to the National Security Council, undertaken by the United States' authorities at the turn of the 1960s-1970s. The article for the first time in Russian historiography clearly shows the establishment of the Council as the main consulting mechanism of the White House and its subsequent decrease in importance due to the increase in H. Kissinger's personal contribution to the development of the United States' foreign policy.

DOI: 10.25136/2409-8671.2017.2.17833

Abstract: The author studies the transformations of decision-making in the sphere of strategic weapons launched by American President Richard Nixon. The author studies the example of the missile defense program “Safeguard” and considers the modernization of the mechanism of functioning of the National Security Council and Henry Kissinger’s work aimed at this organization restructuring. Special attention is given to the formation of the tandem Nixon-Kissinger and the interaction between these politicians in decision-making in the sphere of missile defense. The author uses the historical-system, historical-comparative and historical-typological methods. To study H. Kissinger’s reforms as the National Security Advisor, the author applies the historical-comparative method. The work of Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger, considered in this piece, is a poorly studied area of Russian historiography. The author gives attention to this political tandem’s functioning and concludes about its primary role in decision-making in the sphere of missile defense of the USA in 1968 – 1971. 

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0609.2016.4.15065

Abstract: This article discusses validity of opinions during the Senate debate on “Safeguard” missile defense system. The object of this research is senators’ arguments, presented after the decision-making on the problem. The author gives a detailed structure of their arguments and analyzes them. He pays special attention to senators’ statements on the US National Security or “Safeguard” technical characteristics. The author also defines influence of legislators’ arguments on the ideological split regarding the missile defense system. The main methods used in the articles are historical-typological and historical-systematic. The method of historical periodisation was used while reviewing the results of vote on missile defense issue. Research novelty lies in tracing connections between legislators’ argumentation and the ideological split in regards to the missile defense system. The author’s particular contribution to the topic is represented by grouping senators’ arguments into several categories, which allows to expose their position. The article also approaches the problem of party split regarding the missile defense system.

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0684.2015.2.14578

Abstract: The author studies the issue of the US deterrence doctrine evolution in the 1950s – 1960s. Special attention is paid to the role played by the RAND Corporation analysts in this process. The origins of nuclear deterrence theories, their evolving and influence on the decision-making process in the United States during the early period of the Cold War are also regarded in this article. The author pays special attention to the stages of the American nuclear deterrence evolvement and to the role of the RAND Corporation in its establishing and further development. The methods of historical comparison, historical typology and historical periodization are the essential approaches exploited in the article. The review of nuclear deterrence evolvement in the RAND analysts' works, particularly in those written by B.Brodie and D.Elssberg is a feature of the article novelty. The transition from mutual assured destruction doctrine to the theory of nuclear balance in the relations between the superpowers is also stuided. The author brings into application the mathematical expression of nuclear deterrence, offered by A. Lee Burns, D. Ellsberg and D. Hunter.