{"id":{"repo_id":"mo-state","oai_identifier":"oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-1584"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mo-state/oai:bearworks.missouristate.edu:theses-1584","repository":{"repo_id":"mo-state","name":"Missouri State University","base_url":"https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"The Politics of Strategic Offensive Nuclear Weapons in the Former Soviet Union","abstract":"Since the dissolution of the USSR there has been much concern about the possession and disposition of the nuclear arsenal of the former Super Power. This study examines that problem. It also seeks to clarify the politics and motivations of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan vis-a-vis nuclear weapons. The overt statements of nuclear intent expressed by these countries, coupled with the actions taken with respect to both the weapons and each other, provide surprisingly clear indications of the national aspirations of each. The study suggests that Russia is pursuing an imperialistic policy, possibly with the covert aid of Belarus, intended to maintain Russia's political and economic supremacy over the \"near abroad.\" Ukraine is attempting to ensure its national survival while coping with significant economic and political problems at home. Kazakhstan is working to have the best of both worlds; economic success using western economic models, and military security under Russia's defense umbrella.","abstract_html":"Since the dissolution of the USSR there has been much concern about the possession and disposition of the nuclear arsenal of the former Super Power. This study examines that problem. It also seeks to clarify the politics and motivations of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan vis-a-vis nuclear weapons. The overt statements of nuclear intent expressed by these countries, coupled with the actions taken with respect to both the weapons and each other, provide surprisingly clear indications of the national aspirations of each. The study suggests that Russia is pursuing an imperialistic policy, possibly with the covert aid of Belarus, intended to maintain Russia's political and economic supremacy over the "near abroad." Ukraine is attempting to ensure its national survival while coping with significant economic and political problems at home. Kazakhstan is working to have the best of both worlds; economic success using western economic models, and military security under Russia's defense umbrella.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Valerius, Michael David"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies","degree_level":"Masters","degree_discipline":"Defense and Strategic Studies","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["William Van Cleave"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":1994,"date_issued":"1994-05-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"1994-05-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:15:35Z","subjects":["Defense and Security Studies"],"languages":[],"rights":["© Michael David Valerius"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/583","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["William Van Cleave"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Valerius, Michael David"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Defense and Strategic Studies"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Defense and Security Studies"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["© Michael David Valerius"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/583"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Since the dissolution of the USSR there has been much concern about the possession and disposition of the nuclear arsenal of the former Super Power. This study examines that problem. It also seeks to clarify the politics and motivations of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan vis-a-vis nuclear weapons. The overt statements of nuclear intent expressed by these countries, coupled with the actions taken with respect to both the weapons and each other, provide surprisingly clear indications of the national aspirations of each. The study suggests that Russia is pursuing an imperialistic policy, possibly with the covert aid of Belarus, intended to maintain Russia's political and economic supremacy over the \"near abroad.\" Ukraine is attempting to ensure its national survival while coping with significant economic and political problems at home. Kazakhstan is working to have the best of both worlds; economic success using western economic models, and military security under Russia's defense umbrella."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The Politics of Strategic Offensive Nuclear Weapons in the Former Soviet Union"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["William Van Cleave"],"dc:creator":["Valerius, Michael David"],"dc:description.abstract":["Since the dissolution of the USSR there has been much concern about the possession and disposition of the nuclear arsenal of the former Super Power. This study examines that problem. It also seeks to clarify the politics and motivations of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan vis-a-vis nuclear weapons. The overt statements of nuclear intent expressed by these countries, coupled with the actions taken with respect to both the weapons and each other, provide surprisingly clear indications of the national aspirations of each. The study suggests that Russia is pursuing an imperialistic policy, possibly with the covert aid of Belarus, intended to maintain Russia's political and economic supremacy over the \"near abroad.\" Ukraine is attempting to ensure its national survival while coping with significant economic and political problems at home. Kazakhstan is working to have the best of both worlds; economic success using western economic models, and military security under Russia's defense umbrella."],"dc:identifier":["https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/583"],"dc:rights":["© Michael David Valerius"],"dc:subject":["Defense and Security Studies"],"dc:title":["The Politics of Strategic Offensive Nuclear Weapons in the Former Soviet Union"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Defense and Strategic Studies"],"thesis:degree_level":["Masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Defense and Strategic Studies"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:15:35Z"}