The Symbolic Politics Of Ballistic Missile Defense: Seeking The Perfect Defense In An Imperfect World

Keywords

alliance politics; ballistic missile defense; European missile defense; NATO; symbolic politics; US foreign policy; US security policy

Abstract

Ballistic missile defense (BMD) politics present an interesting evolution in how the USA, especially Congress, has come to think about BMD both as operational reality and as a symbolic policy. The argument here is that BMD's operational reality is increasingly overshadowed by its symbolic aspects. Such a status arose from rapidly changing international and domestic politics. The end result is a situation in which BMD policy in a sense floats above the question of its actual combat effectiveness. Its primary mission in part is sustaining US capacity to remain a global power and support its allies.

Publication Date

1-1-2015

Publication Title

Defense and Security Analysis

Volume

31

Issue

1

Number of Pages

44-57

Document Type

Editorial Material

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1080/14751798.2014.995336

Socpus ID

84928585191 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84928585191

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