Stephen J. Cimbala is Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Penn State Brandywine. Dr Cimbala is an award winning Penn State teacher and the author of numerous works in the fields of national security studies, nuclear arms control and other topics.

In the twenty-first century, the United States confronts an international system of great complexity and shifting security challenges. This book's relevance lies in its assessment of certain large-looming cases, including the possible acquisition and deployment of nuclear weapons by Iran and the continuing tensions created by North Korea's nuclear arsenal. The Obama 'pivot' of national security and defense emphasis to Asia reflects not only the growing economic importance of that region, but also the growing number of security dilemmas in a region that is already awash in nuclear forces. The management of nuclear crises and even the possible need to terminate nuclear wars before they expand beyond a single region are among the possible challenges facing future U.S. and allied policy makers and military leaders.

Introduction; Chapter 1 Geography and Nuclear Arms Control; Chapter 2 Anticipatory Attacks and Nuclear Weapons: Challenges to Deterrence and Crisis Stability; Chapter 3 Nuclear Crisis Management in a Digital Age; Chapter 4 Ending a Nuclear War: Deterring and Controlling Escalation; Chapter 5 Cyber War and Nuclear Weapons; Chapter 6 Tsar Wars and Star Wars: Missile Defense, Nuclear Arms Control and Putin; Chapter 7 Nuclear Weapons in Asia: Perils and Promises; Chapter 8 Nuclear Proliferation: Theory and Reality; Chapter 9 Deterrence and Intelligence in Nuclear History: The 1983 'œWar Scare'?; Chapter 10 Armed Persuasion and Arms Control: Vladimir Putin in Ukraine, February 21'"March 18, 2014; conclusion Conclusion;