Constrained Cognition: Information Management and the Practical Limits of Nuclear Escalation Control
Date of Graduation
Spring 2017
Degree
Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies
Department
Defense and Strategic Studies
Committee Chair
John Mattox
Abstract
Nuclear escalation control theory rests on the idea that decision makers, in a limited nuclear war scenario, will choose their actions based on a rational assessment of the available information. That information essentially consists of intelligence reports about one's adversary and information reporting the status of one's own forces' ability to execute offensive actions and the damage level of vital national targets. Yet the practical limits of managing the flow and quality of this information, coupled with the fog and friction inherent in human analyses, significantly affect the decision-making process vis-à-vis nuclear escalation. Hence, these limitations cast a pall over any military doctrine that relies heavily on the assumption that nuclear escalation can be controlled with precision. Examining information management during the Cuban Missile Crisis shows the practical limits of managing this information flow, which in turn limits the ability of national leaders to make such decisions properly.
Keywords
nuclear escalation control, limited nuclear war, intelligence analysis, intelligence management, cuban missile crisis
Subject Categories
Defense and Security Studies
Copyright
© Luke James O'Brien
Recommended Citation
O'Brien, Luke James, "Constrained Cognition: Information Management and the Practical Limits of Nuclear Escalation Control" (2017). MSU Graduate Theses. 3156.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/3156
