The most dangerous game : a phenomenological criticism of the rhetoric of nuclear war, 1945-1981.

This study represents an attempt to isolate and describe the legitimation tactics used by American foreign policy rhetors in the specific instance of nuclear diplomacy rhetoric. This group of speeches is argued to be particularly rich in such appeals for two primary reasons. First, the nature of nuclear conflict is such that Presidents will seek acceptance of their policies without meaningful changes out of a fear that any alterations would have destabilizing effects. Second, discussions of nuclear weapons policies, necessarily, involves the juxtaposition of American views of reality with a radically different view of reality in the Soviet system. The study is presented in five chapters. In Chapter I, I have presented introductory material, developing a currently popular view of rhetoric as epistemic and providing a brief description of the methodology of this study. In Chapter II, I have traced the development of nuclear targeting doctrine, arguing principally that these policies are evolutionary in nature. In Chapter III, I have described the speeches included in this study from a fantasy theme approach. The dramatic form used in these speeches represents an attempt by the rhetors to get their audience to respond emotionally to the issues at hand. In Chapter IV, I have discussed six de-politicization tactics used by the rhetors in their attempts to legitimate secretive decision-making structures for nuclear weapons technology. Some conclusions are offered at the end of each chapter as well as in the final chapter. The last chapter is devoted primarily to summary and recommendations for further study.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Grantor

Baylor University.

Year dc:date.issued

1982

Author dc:creator

• Sadler, Martin R.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Bass, Jeff Davis, 1951-

• Nuclear warfare.
• Rhetoric.

Statement dc:rights

• Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2104/14301

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/14301