Shadows on the Wall: Deterrence and Disarmament examines and contrasts the three alternative philosophical positions about the nature of the international system and patterns of human behavior that underlie three competing narratives seen in U.S. public debate regarding nuclear deterrence and disarmament. For over six decades, these three competing narratives, built on contrary philosophical traditions, have been the basis for contending positions regarding U.S. nuclear policy ranging from advocacy for complete global nuclear disarmament to advocacy for the maintenance of robust U.S. nuclear capabilities for deterrence. Each of these three different narratives is based on different speculative expectations about developments in the international system and future patterns of human behavior. Given the inherent uncertainties about future developments in the international system and human behavior, none of these narratives can be deemed to objectively correct, or certainly wrong. They may, nevertheless, be judged to entail different levels of prudence for U.S. and allied security. An original, fascinating and must read in the national security and nuclear arms arena. --Dr. John S. Foster, Jr., former Director of Defense Research and Engineering, Department of Defense and Director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Dr. Keith Payne, perhaps the most knowledgeable and prolific scholar in the field, has once more added to our collective understanding of deterrence and the different schools of thought that have influenced the U.S. strategic posture for more than seventy years. In this volume, he presents an impressive survey of the literature and a sound assessment of competing geopolitical and ethical perspectives on the past and present role of nuclear weapons in U.S. defense strategy. His treatment of three contrasting philosophical narratives provides a unique baseline for comparing and evaluating the different assumptions and recommendations that have defined the debate over U.S. nuclear policy since the advent of the atomic age. His conclusions concerning political culture go far to explaining the wide gap between American idealism with regard to expectations for arms control solutions and the hard reality of the dangers that must be deterred. Dr. Payne s new book will, I believe, have a profound impact on deterrence thinking and policy for years to come. --Amb. Robert Joseph, former Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Shadows on the Wall lays bare the divergent assumptions that so often shape debates over deterrence and disarmament. In so doing, it lays the foundation for a more constructive and productive discussion of national security. --Dr. Thomas G. Mahnken, President and CEO, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments and Senior Research Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies Dr. Keith B. Payne is President of the National Institute for Public Policy and Professor Emeritus of the Graduate Department of Defense and Strategic Studies at Missouri State University (Washington, D.C. area campus). He is the author, co-author, or editor of over one hundred and fifty published articles and eighteen books and monographs, some of which have been translated into German, Russian, Chinese or Japanese.