Graham Allison: Interview (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)

 Graham Allison: Interview

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Sept 14, 2-25)

To mark the surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945 that ended the most devastating war in history, the editor-in-chief of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists engaged me in a lengthy discussion of what I’ve called the “longest peace.” Recalling John Gaddis’s classic 1987 article on the “Long Peace,” I’ve argued that we should pause this month to reflect and give thanks for the longest period without great power war since the Roman Empire. Indeed, to make the point vivid, I suggested we think about 3 numbers: 80, 80, and 9. If one can identify the question to which each is the answer, he’ll have the big picture about what’s happened in the international security arena during the entire lifetime of virtually every American today.

Among his questions to which I offered my current best answers:
Should we be optimistic, or alternatively pessimistic, about this longest peace continuing for the next quarter century?
How does President Trump think about nuclear weapons and the imperative of avoiding a great power war?
How is Trump impacting the international security order?
How does the Chinese government see the “disruptor-in-chief?”

Challenging questions for times in which we’re all discombobulated.

If you have reactions, I’ll be interested to receive them.
Regards,
Graham Allison Signature
Graham Allison
Douglas Dillon Professor of Government
Harvard Kennedy School

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