Nuclear Dilemmas and Proxy Warfare

This chapter analyzes how political leaders manipulate external threats to garner public support for military actions, drawing on historical examples of exaggerated narratives. It explores the troubling dynamics of nuclear armament and military strategies that fail to adapt to contemporary geopolitical realities, particularly concerning powers like Russia and China. The conversation critiques the influence of the military-industrial complex on foreign policy and discusses the complex interplay of diplomacy in regions like the Middle East, notably regarding U.S.-Iran relations.