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Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- Appendices -- Figures and List of Tables -- Introduction -- 1. Nuclear Choices -- 2. Nuclear Programs -- 3. Test Ban and Non-Proliferation Regimes -- 4. Reducing Inventories -- 5. Coordinations -- 6. Verification and Transparency -- 7. National Structures and Civil Society -- 8. Costs and Risks -- 9. Threats and Fears -- 10. Conclusions -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Index

"This work canvasses nuclear weapon abolition, proposals placed on the table since 1945 and the obstacles and issues which a realistic program for abolition confronts today. It has an ambitious purpose, to show that nuclear abolition can and should be placed on the public agenda. The author terms it "interpretive" in that it incorporates his commentaries, never hiding his reasons and judgments. It is neither "just the facts" nor "all the facts." It is an encyclopedia in the original meaning of "a general course of instruction." He identifies himself with all who pursue the problem posed by nuclear weapons systematically and with seriousness of purpose, committed to self-instruction. In another sense, he writes, this work is a conversation with the Reader." "Larkin's text is written for those, whether practitioners or citizens, interested in designing and bringing about denuclearization. Abolition cannot be achieved by political elites in the absence of broad concurrent public support. Governments, career policy officials and legislators have chosen to assume responsibility for the public agenda. They may be asked - must be asked - what they will do to bring about denuclearization."--Jacket

The People's Republic of China, as one part of comprehensive changes which extend to the economy and social policy, has moved to change the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to a smaller, more efficient, better-educated force relying more heavily on advanced weapons and high technology. Although Chinese spokesmen insist that war is a continuing phenomenon and that China must be prepared for war, they describe small-scale wars as more likely and deride prior expectations of massive, large-scale war. Policy statements and China's experience since 1949 suggest that the PLA will prepare for defensive war at the border and assertion of Chinese claims in the western Pacific. For the present, however, China insists on the need for a peaceful environment to achieve economic aims. Globally, China urges 'complete prohibition and thorough destruction' of nuclear weapons and criticizes moves to base weapons in space, but pending deep cuts in superpower strategic systems insists on gradual enhancement of China's own nuclear forces. China could encourage moves toward a largely disarmed world, or could insist on sovereign military capabilities re-enforcing today's heavily armed global stalemate