weaponless-deterrence
A novel form of deterrence relying on the latent ability to rebuild nuclear arsenals rather than maintaining active weapons.
2 chapters across 1 book
This Is the Way the World Ends (1987)James Morrow
The chapter unfolds as a detailed courtroom trial scrutinizing nuclear strategy, arms control, and moral responsibility. Key testimonies from figures like Brigadier General Quentin Flood, Mother Mary Catherine, and Victor Seabird reveal deep tensions between military pragmatism, ethical opposition to nuclear weapons, and ambitious disarmament efforts embodied by the Einstein Treaties. The proceedings highlight the challenges of verification, the concept of weaponless deterrence, and the personal and political costs of advocating for nuclear abolition amid skepticism and geopolitical complexities.
The chapter centers on Morning's impending death and her revelation of a supernatural deal granting George a brief reunion with their deceased daughter, intertwining prophecy and personal fate. It juxtaposes the symbolic destruction of nuclear weapons and the concept of weaponless deterrence with intimate moments of love and loss, culminating in Morning's death and the enduring power of memory amid a bleak, frozen world.