The Economics of Proliferation in the People's Republic of China

<p>Proliferation of systems and technologies related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is a primary concern to U.S. policy makers in the post-Cold War era. Yet the dynamic of WMD proliferation takes place in an international environment where the hierarchy of issues and the constraints among international actors have changed greatly. This paper suggests that a concept labeled Economism structures contemporary issues among nations including those military and security issues (to include proliferation) that since World War II had been considered the strict province of high politics. In order to examine this claim this paper explores the proliferation activities of the People's Republic of China and the efforts of the United States to influence the PRC's proliferation policies. It further suggests that in order to understand proliferation activities in the PRC an appreciation for what Graham Allison has termed organizational and bureaucratic models of decision making must be applied to the PRC in contravention to what the West normally considers as a closed authoritarian and egoistic central authority. Finally with insights gained from this new understanding as informed by the imperatives of Economism this paper presents options for U.S. leaders to consider in crafting more effective policies for dealing with the PRC's proliferation activities.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>