Weapons Procurement

Synopsis

If the development of armaments by the superpowers is to be managed, then it is necessary to understand the forces which drive it. Professor Graham Allison, of Harvard University, discusses two rival theories - that it is driven mainly by external competition between the superpowers or that it is driven mainly by internal pressures within organisations in the respective countries. The programme identifies four areas where pressures might arise: commercial, political, technological and military. Some analysts in the programme argue that these pressures determine procurement decisions which are not rationally or military justified, whilst other contributors point to the behaviour of complex organisations as a way of understanding the procurement process.

Series

Nuclear Weapons: Inquiry, Analysis and Debate, Course U235

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 25 min.

Year of production

1986

Availability

OUT OF DISTRIBUTION

Subjects

Politics & government

Keywords

defence; nuclear weapons

Credits

Producer

Roger Penfound

Cast

Mararet Blunden

Production Company

Name

BBC Open University Productions

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

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