Strategic Parasitism, Professional Strategists and Policy Choices: The Influence of George Lindsey and Robert Sutherland on Canadian Denuclearisation, 1962-1972

Authors

John Keess

Abstract

Between 1957 and 1963, Canada acquired numerous nuclear delivery systems to fulfill commitments to the defence of North America and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). In 1972, Pierre Trudeau’s government divested most of these systems. Much of the literature ascribes Trudeau’s decision to purely political reasons. By examining the contributions of two operational researchers from the Defence Research Board, Dr. R.J. Sutherland and Dr. George Lindsey, this article assesses the influence of professional advice on denuclearisation. This research has found that Lindsey and Sutherland provided a strategic grammar which helped shape the nature and timing of partial denuclearisation.

Recommended Citation

Keess, John "Strategic Parasitism, Professional Strategists and Policy Choices: The Influence of George Lindsey and Robert Sutherland on Canadian Denuclearisation, 1962-1972." Canadian Military History 29, 1 (2020)