On the doctrine of limited war

This study is a critical analysis of a conception within modern military strategy. It probes the consistency and consequence of a doctrine that plays a dominant role in American strategy, and which is at the same time the theoretical basic of defense efforts by the small states. After tracing the background o the concept of limited war in the pre-nuclear age, and in the general post-war discussion of strategy, it deals with the various elements of an idea that touches upon all the main issues of foreign policy and military strategy since World War II: deterrence, escalation, the development and deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, interventionism the American image of war etc.