War, Peace and Nuclear Issues

Books listed here discuss:  the just war and pacifist positions;  nuclear war, nuclear deterrence and nuclear ethics;  US and Soviet military power;  disarmament;  The Strategic Defence Initiative;  and nuclear energy.  They all support, in varying degrees, just war theories, deterrence, and a militarily strong West.

Barrs, Jerram, Who Are the Peacemakers?  The Christian Case For Nuclear Deterrence.  Westchester, Illinois:  Crossway Books, 1983.  64pp.

Appealing to biblical and current arguments on the nature of war, oppression, justice and peace, Barrs demonstrates how nuclear deterrence is Christianly and realistically superior to pacifism, accommodation and disarmament.  Barrs is codirector of L'Abri Fellowship in England.

Beckmann, Peter, The Health Hazards of Not Going Nuclear.  Boulder, Colorado:  The Golum Press, 1976.  190pp.

"This book never tries to make the point that nuclear power is safe;  the point it makes is that it is far safer than other forms of large-scale energy conversion yet invented."  Although somewhat dated, this is still one of the best books available on the subject of nuclear energy, and why it is preferable over fossil fuel usage.  Topics such as major accidents, waste disposal, environmental impact and terrorism and sabotage are abley covered.  Beckmann was born in Prague, and moved to America in 1963.  He is editor of the monthly newsletter, Access to Energy.

Boettner, Loraine, The Christian Attitude Toward War.  Phillipsburg, New Jersey:  Presbyterian and Reformed, 1940, 1985.  91pp.

This brief work, originally written in 1940, offers a defence of the just war position and a critique of pacifism.  Boettner comes from the Reformed tradition.  A helpful but older work.

Bova, Ben, Star Peace:  Assured Survival.  New York:  Tom Doherty Associates, 1984, 1986.  384pp.

Originally published as Assured Survival:  Putting the Star Wars Defense in Perspective, (Houghton Mifflin, 1984), this book is a discussion both of the Strategic Defense Initiative and of nuclear strategy.  Full of information and explanation.  Bova is president of the National Space Society.

Bridger, Francis, ed., The Cross and the Bomb:  Christian Ethics and the Nuclear Debate.  London:  Mowbray, 1983.  154pp.

In 1982 the English Anglicans issued a report entitled "The Church and the Bomb" which condemned the possession and use of nuclear weapons, and called for unilateral disarmament.  In this volume seven churchmen and professors rebut the report.  They argue that unilateralism is in fact immoral, and show the moral necessity of nuclear deterrence.  A learned set of essays dealing with questions of war and peace, ethics, power, East-West relations, and related issues.  A good collection of articles.

Bruce-Briggs, B., The Shield of Faith:  the Hidden Struggle For Strategic Defense.  New York:  Simon and Schuster, 1988.  464pp.

This is an account of the rise and development of the idea of strategic defense.  Its history is traced from World War I zeppelin defences to the Strategic Defense Initiative.  A complete account of the scientists, defense analysts, engineers and politicians involved, and a thorough look at the philosophy, technology and politics of strategic defense.  Bruce-Briggs is a policy analyst and military historian.

Burns, J. Patout, Robert J. Daly and John Helgeland, Christians and the Military:  The Early Experience.  Philadelphia:  Fortress Press, 1985.  101pp.

In this brief book the authors contend that, contrary to popular belief, the early Christian church was not primarily pacifistic.  The New Testament, non-Christian and early Christian writers are examined in detail.

Carnesdale, Albert, et. al., Living With Nuclear Weapons.  New York:  Bantam Books, 1983.  268pp.

This is the result of the Harvard Nuclear Study Group.  While not explicitly conservative (can anything good come out of Harvard?), this book is nonetheless one of the few volumes dealing with nuclear issues which is not decidedly "anti".  It is a remarkably balanced, objective and thorough discussion of all the issues involved in the nuclear debate.  A detailed and scholarly look at arms control, weapons systems, military power, nuclear arsenals, disarmament, etc.

Chalfont, Alun, Star Wars:  Suicide Or Survival?  Boston:  Little, Brown and Company, 1985.  169pp.

In this book, Chalfont, an English journalist and politician, argues that the Strategic Defense Initiative is indeed survival -- survival not only for the West, but for the whole world.  A fine discussion of the science, politics and morality of SDI.

Child, James W., Nuclear War:  The Moral Dimension.  New Brunswick, New Jersey:  Transaction Books, 1986.  197pp.

This is a fine defence of just war theory in a nuclear age.  The author argues that a policy of nuclear deterrence is logically and morally justifiable.  He examines a number of historical, military, philosophical and moral dimensions of nuclear war.  A very fine book.  Child is a professor at Bowling Green State University.

Clouse, Robert G. ed., War:  Four Christian Views.  Downers Grove, Illinois:  Inter Varsity Press, 1981.  210pp.

This helpful volume contains four views on war -- nonresistance, pacifism, just war and crusade -- which are responded to by the other three participants.  Arthur Holmes makes the case for the just war position, while Harold O.J. Brown defends the crusade, or preventive war.  A lively debate, with a good bibliography at the end.

Codevilla, Angelo, While Others Build:  A Commonsense Approach to the Strategic Defense Initiative.  New York:  The Free Press, 1988.  256pp.

"This book is about the problems -- both technical and political -- associated with defending ourselves against ballistic missiles, and about the myths that have grown up around the problems."  Codevilla provides an inside look at the politics and problems involved in moving ahead with SDI research and development.  He also looks at the very real Soviet threat and why SDI is so necessary.  An important analysis of SDI in particular, and how weapons systems develop -- or falter -- in the United States.  Codevilla is a Senior Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution.

Cohen, Bernard L., Before It's Too Late:  A Scientist's Case For Nuclear Energy.  New York:  Plenum Press, 1983.  292pp.

In the face of so much anti-nuclear sentiment as of late, it is hard to find a book which clearly and compellingly argues for nuclear energy.  This is such a book.  Cohen discusses radiation and its risks;  radioactive waste;  nuclear reactor meltdowns;  the cost of nuclear energy;  and public misunderstandings of such issues.  A scholarly and rational presentation.  Cohen is a professor of physics at the University of Pittsburgh.

Cohen, Sam, The Truth About the Neutron Bomb.  New York:  William Morrow and Company, 1983.  226pp.

Written from an admittedly partisan viewpoint (Cohen invented the neutron bomb), this book not only explains the development of, and rationale behind, the neutron bomb, but also discusses the weaknesses and divisions of the West in dealing with the Soviet threat.

Culver, Robert Duncan, The Peace Mongers.  Wheaton, Illinois:  Tyndale House, 1985.  160pp.

In this volume, Culver, a former peace-church member, argues for a realistic view of war and peace, and gives a biblical critique of pacifism and nuclear disarmament.  A helpful historical survey and biblical analysis.

English, Raymond, ed., Ethics and Nuclear Arms:  European and American Perspectives.  Washington, DC:  Ethics and Public Policy Center, 1985.  132pp.

In this volume Richard John Neuhaus, Michael Novak, Edward Norman and seven other authors look at the moral/ethical ramifications of our nuclear forces.  Subjects covered include:  Christianity and nuclear war;  no-first use;  nuclear pacifism;  nuclear deterrence;  and East-West relations.  A helpful set of articles.  Well-informed and up to date.

Fossedal, Gregory A. and Daniel O. Graham, A Defense that Defends.  Old Greenwich, Connecticut:  Devin-Adair, 1983.  158pp.

Graham, director of High Frontier, and Fossedal, writer for the Wall Street Journal, have teamed up to produce a readable and informed book on strategic defense.  Written just after President Reagan's "Star Wars" speech of March, 1983, this volume gives the rationale for, the importance of, and the vision for, the Strategic Defense Initiative.  A helpful volume.

Graham, Daniel O., High Frontier:  A New National Strategy.  Washington DC:  High Frontier, 1982.  175pp.

"High Frontier is a privately-funded effort, conducted under the aegis of The Heritage Foundation.  Its purpose is to seek answers in US technology, especially space technology, to the strategic problems that plague the United States and the Free World."  Although dated, this book is important in that it is one of the first calls for a strategic defense system ('Star Wars'), to replace Mutual Assured Destruction.  Military, technological, economic, strategic and geo-political dimensions are all addressed in this detailed and logically presented volume.

Graham, Daniel O., We Must Defend America and Put an End to MADness.  Chicago:  Regnery Gateway, 1983.  114pp.

In this book, the Director of High Frontier, Inc., critiques the doctrine of Mutual Assured Destruction and calls for a new strategy based on a non-nuclear shield against ICBM's.  Graham believes that American technology can lead the way in America's military defense.  A brief but challenging volume.

Jastrow, Robert, How To Make Nuclear Weapons Obsolete.  Boston:  Little, Brown and Company, 1983, 1984, 1985.  175pp.

This book is an explanation and vindication of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), also known as "Star Wars".  He argues that SDI is economically feasible, morally justifiable, and strategically necessary.  Jastrow is a physicist who has worked with NASA.

Johnson, James Turner, Can Modem War Be Just?  New Haven, Connecticut:  Yale University Press, 1984.  215pp.

This work attempts to reconcile just war theory with modern warfare in the nuclear age.  A convincing and scholarly argument which shows that nuclear warfare is in fact compatible with the criteria laid forth in traditional just war theory.  A wide-ranging and informative study.  Johnson is a professor of religion and political science at Rutgers University.

Lawler, Philip F., ed., Justice and War in the Nuclear Age.  New York:  University Press of America, 1983.  119pp.

James Schall, John J. O'Connor and four other authors here present a Catholic defense of the just war doctrine in the nuclear context.  Just war theories, arms control, nuclear deterrence, the peace movement, and East-West relations are among the topics addressed.  An informed and cogent set of essays.

LeFever, Ernest W. and E. Stephen Hunt, eds., The Apocalyptic Premise:  Nuclear Arms Debated.  Washington, DC:  Ethics and Public Policy Center, 1982.  417pp.

In this sizable volume 31 essays on the nuclear debate are presented.  Lay leaders, clerics, scholars, heads of state and journalists are among the contributors.  Although all sides of the debate are presented -- thus essays by Leonid Brezhnev, Jonathan Schell and Ted Kennedy -- the majority of the essays are written from a conservative point of view.  Such conservatives include:  Irving Kristol;  Edward Luttwak;  John Barron;  Michael Novak;  Ronald Reagan;  George Will;  and Caspar Weinberger.  A fine collection of articles.

Lewy, Guenter, Peace and Revolution:  The Moral Crisis of American Pacifism.  Grand Rapids:  William B. Eerdmans, 1988.  283pp.

In this important volume Lewy traces the shift away from non-violence to support of revolution by American pacifist groups.  He shows in detail how four major pacifist organizations have recently come to defend armed struggle and leftist regimes, departing from their original calling of non-violence.  Their support of oppressive regimes like Vietnam, Cuba and Nicaragua, and their condemnation of America and the West is evidence of such a transformation.  Well researched and documented.  Lewy teaches political science in Massachusetts.

McCracken, Samuel, The War Against the Atom.  New York:  Basic Books, 1982.  206pp.

In an age when nuclear energy has become a new pariah, McCracken argues most convincingly in its defense.  Nuclear energy is a safe, cheap and efficient form of energy.  The author examines the economic, medical, environmental and scientific case for nuclear energy, and looks at some of the anti-nuclear movements and their leaders.  A well reasoned defense of nuclear energy by an authority in the field.

Martino, Joseph P., A Fighting Chance:  The Moral Use of Nuclear Weapons.  San Francisco:  Ignatius Press, 1988.  283pp.

This is an important study of just war theory in the nuclear age.  The criteria of just war theory as applied to nuclear weapons are assessed;  issues of defense, deterrence and disarmament are addressed;  and various military strategies and weapons systems are studied.  All the bases are covered in this study:  political, military, strategic, philosophical, moral and theological.  A fine look at the dilemmas of war and peace keeping in the nuclear age.  Martino is a Senior Research Scientist at the University of Dayton.

Morey, Robert A., When Is It Right To Fight?  Minneapolis:  Bethany House, 1985.  143pp.

This book provides a biblical, historical and moral defense of the just war position.  A helpful work, with a good bibliography.  Morey has written a number of books on Christian apologetics.

Novak, Michael, Moral Clarity In the Nuclear Age.  Nashville:  Thomas Nelson, 1983.  144pp.

This is a very incisive and helpful little volume on the nuclear debate.  Novak argues effectively for the moral and strategic importance of nuclear deterrence.  Also included is a critique of the bishops' pastoral letter on war and peace.  An extremely well reasoned and eloquently argued work.  Must reading for clarity on an issue much clouded in muddled thinking.

O'Brien, William V., The Conduct of Just and Limited War.  New York:  Praeger, 1981.  495pp.

This is a scholarly and detailed examination of the just war theory and its modern applications.  O'Brien discusses just war criteria and how it applied to World War II, Korea and Vietnam;  and he considers limited war in relation to Korea, Vietnam and the Yom Kippur War.  Heavily footnoted with an extensive bibliography.  A very valuable book.  O'Brien is professor of government at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

O'Brien, William V., War and/or Survival.  New York:  Doubleday and Company, 1969.  289pp.

O'Brien is an authority on questions of ethics in international affairs.  In this volume he defends the just war position, and follows the "realist" approach to war of such thinkers as Hans Morganthau.  O'Brien focuses on the moral questions raised by war, armed conflict, arms control issues, deterrence, revolution and disarmament.  He also examines contemporary Catholic teaching on war, deterrence and revolution.  A thorough and stimulating treatment of a very controversial subject area.

Payne, Karl and Keith Payne, A Just Defense:  The Use of Force, Nuclear Weapons and Our Conscience.  Portland, Oregon:  Multnomah Press, 1987.  331pp.

This is one of the best, and most recent, books yet written on the subject of nuclear weapons and just war by the evangelical world.  The Paynes are to be congratulated for providing a wealth of historical, biblical, military and moral information on the thorny issues of war and peace, nuclear deterrence, strategic defense, national security and East-West relations.  The Paynes provide a good blend ol strategic/military knowledge and biblical/theological insight.  A valuable book.

Payne, Keith B., Strategic Defense:  "Star Wars" in Perspective.  Lanham, Maryland:  Hamilton Press, 1986.  250pp.

This is among the most comprehensive and cogent volumes thus far written on strategic defense.  The politics, logistics, morality and feasibility of SDI are clearly and thoroughly expounded.  A well researched and well written volume on an important and timely topic.  Payne is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University's National Security Studies Program.

Ramsey, Paul, The Just War:  Force and Political Responsibility.  New York:  Charles Scribner's Sons, 1968.  554pp.

This is a major treatise on just war theory which covers a wide range of topics, such as:  the use of power;  conscientious objection;  nuclear warfare;  pacifism;  deterrence;  morality and the nuclear debate;  the Vatican Council on modern war;  Vietnam;  and war, justice and ethics.  A very helpful work from one of the leading thinkers on the subject.

Ramsey, Paul, War and the Christian Conscience.  Durham, North Carolina:  Duke University Press, 1961.  331pp.

This is a scholarly and detailed look at the ethics and politics of war and peace.  The just war position is analysed and defended, and modern developments in warfare are ethically appraised.  Ramsey, who taught at Princeton University until his death in 1988, was a leading Protestant ethicist.

Schaeffer, Francis A., Vladimir Bukovsky and James Hitchcock, Who Is For Peace?  Nashville:  Thomas Nelson, 1983.  112pp.

Who Is For Peace? is an excellent book containing three penetrating essays by three important thinkers:  the late Francis Schaeffer argues for nuclear deterrence and the defense of the West;  the released Soviet dissident Bukovsky exposes the Soviet backing of much of the world-wide peace movement;  and the Catholic writer Hitchcock assesses the bishops' pastoral letter.  A very helpful volume.

Seabury, Paul and Angelo Codevilla, War:  Ends and Means.  New York:  Basic Books, 1989.  306pp.

In addition to covering every aspect of war -- causes, means, aims, methods, justifications -- this book focuses on 10 common myths or misunderstandings about war.  Such myths include:  nuclear weapons have rendered war obsolete;  people fight only for self-preservation;  wars arise because of economic competition, arms races, crises, etc;  fighting never solves anything;  and all combatants stand on the same moral plane.  A comprehensive and informed primer on war.  Excellent reading.  Seabury teaches Political Science at the University of California, Berkely.  Codevilla is a Senior Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution.

Tucker, Robert W., The Just War:  A Study in Contemporary American Doctrine.  Baltimore:  Johns Hopkins Press, 1960.  207pp.

This is an historical, analytical and moral appraisal of just war, defensive war, and American foreign policy.  Tucker concludes by stating that the problem of reconciling force and justice may not be fully resolvable, but the moral considerations must nonetheless be seriously studied.  A helpful and incisive volume.  Tucker teaches political science at Johns Hopkins University.

Wallop, Malcolm and Angelo Codevilla, The Arms Control Delusion.  San Francisco:  Institute for Contemporary Studies, 1987.  220pp.

The arms control process is a myth, argue the authors.  Why?  Because it is solipsistic, "something we do to ourselves, largely by ourselves ... The treaties are our treaties -- 'salient' for us, not for [the Soviets]."  This book examines the history of arms control, and demonstrates what a chimera it has been.  The authors, both experts in this area, argue that we should forget about arms control and instead concentrate on building a strategic defense capability to ensure American security and safety.  An important work.

Weigel, George, Tranquillitas Ordinis:  The Present Failure and Future Promise of American Catholic Thought on War and Peace.  New York:  Oxford University Press, 1987.  489pp.

This is a major new analysis of Roman Catholic teaching on war and peace.  The Catholic tradition, beginning with Augustine, considered peace to be dynamic, rightly ordered political community ("tranquillitas ordinis"), argues Weigel.  This position, among other things, gave moral justification for just war theories.  Modern Catholicism, since the Second Vatican Council, has abandoned this tradition.  Weigel calls for its return, with a theology of peace based upon power.  A very important study by an expert on issues of war, peace and ethics.