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Missile Defense

Russian military leaders have expressed concern about US plans for a national missile defense system. Will defense technology be limited by possibilities for a strategic imbalance? Is this just SDI all over again?

rshowalter - 03:01pm Jun 16, 2001 EST (#5285 of 5287)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

MD948 rshowalter 3/12/01 10:02am

Adolf Berle's POWER says basic things about power in human groups of all kinds, that I think are fundamental. Here are his "Five Natural Laws of Power," taken from his preface:

“The "0th" rule is so obvious to Berle that he states it first, but doesn't consider it as a rule of power. It is, in his view, the basic reason for power. "Power is always preferable to chaos, and the forces of chaos in human affairs are always contained by some use of human power." People need order.

“And so, to control chaos, people work in frameworks of power. And, according to Berle, these frameworks are always subject to these rules.

One: Power invariably fills any vacuum in human organization.

Two: Power is invariably personal.

Three: Power is invariably based on a system of ideas of philosophy. Absent such a system or philosophy, the institutions essential to power cease to be reliable, power ceases to be effective, and the power holder is eventually displaced.

Four: Power is exercised through, and depends on, institutions. By their existence, they limit, come to control, and eventually confer or withdraw power.

Five: Power is invariably confronted with, and acts in the presence of, a field of responsibility. The two constantly interact, in hostility or co-operation, in conflict or through some form of dialog, organized or unorganized, made part of, or perhaps intruding into, the institutions on which power depends.

I believe these rules of power are basic to the way human beings must cooperate in groups. How do these rules of power fit what is happening?

rshowalter - 03:02pm Jun 16, 2001 EST (#5286 of 5287)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

MD4718 rshowalter 6/10/01 8:11pm

What's NATO for, anyway ? MD3983 rshowalter 5/16/01 6:06pm

It is proposed that NATO be expanded, for purposes that would never have justified its creation. If the purpose of NATO is to create a perception and reality of comfort with respect to Russia, how could that comfort, both in reality and in perception, be achieved more sensibly, justly, and cheaply?

rshowalter - 03:03pm Jun 16, 2001 EST (#5287 of 5287)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

MD1912 rshowalter 4/2/01 2:29pm

MD4719 rshowalter 6/10/01 8:13pm

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