The major defense policy issues facing the United States in the 1970s are examined by Morton H. Halperin. A revision of his earlier Contemporary Military Strategy, the book has been substantially up-dated and now includes discussion of the evolution of American policy through the first year of the Nixon administration. This book examines concepts and modes of analysis currently applied by American civilian strategists to policy-making, and used in academic analyses of international politics.

"Written under the auspices of the Center for International Affairs, Harvard University."

The role of force in the nuclear age -- Warfare in the nuclear age -- Quantitative and qualitative research methods -- The evolution of American military strategy -- Soviet military strategy -- Chinese military strategy -- General war: the strategy of sufficiency -- Limited war: the nature of the limiting process -- Deterrence and defense in Europe -- Deterrence and defense in Asia -- Arms control: SALT and NPT.