Factors Influencing Perceptions of the US/USSR Military Balance.

摘要

This memorandum is based on the premise that nations base their policies on their perceptions of the US/USSR military balance and do not make their decisions solely or even primarily on the basis of the objective data concerning this balance. The author discusses various methods which, if employed to diminish perceptual distortions, would allow more objective and accurate judgement of the balance. He concludes that if these perceptions are dealt with and their nature understood, the chances of being misled by our own perceptions can be reduced and sometimes the perceptions which countries have of the US/USSR balance can be modified.