Organisierte Friedlosigkeit – Dieter Senghaas’ Abschreckungskritik

The arms control regime is on the verge of collapse. In view of this, is a re-evaluation of older ideas on deterrence and arms control worthwhile? The article answers this question approvingly using Dieter Senghaas’ critique of deterrence and arms control as an example. After introducing this critique and contemporary counter-criticism in the 1970s, the paper attempts to show Senghaas current relevance against the background of the state of research in recent nuclear history. The latter emphasizes the persistent U. S. pursuit of relative nuclear superiority, which is difficult to reconcile with notions of “strategic stability” and “balance”.