Paolo Rosa is Professor of Political Science at the School of International Studies of the University of Trento, Italy. He is an associate of the EU Non-proliferation Consortium. His main research interests include Foreign Policy Analysis, Italian Foreign and Military Behaviour, Chinese Politics, Strategic Culture, Quantitative Analysis of Conflicts, and Peace Research.

• 1. Introduction: Competing explanations for the underdevelopment of China’s nuclear doctrine.- 2. A neoclassical realist approach to military doctrines.- 3. China’s nuclear programme: Origins and progress.- 4. Nuclear doctrine as a continuation of factional politics by other means, 1964-1971.- 5. Elite stability and nuclear doctrine formulation, 1978-1989.- 6. Conclusions.

Paolo Rosa is Professor of Political Science at the School of International Studies of the University of Trento, Italy. He is an associate of the EU Non-proliferation Consortium. His main research interests include Foreign Policy Analysis, Italian Foreign and Military Behaviour, Chinese Politics, Strategic Culture, Quantitative Analysis of Conflicts, and Peace Research.

• 1. Introduction: Competing explanations for the underdevelopment of China’s nuclear doctrine.- 2. A neoclassical realist approach to military doctrines.- 3. China’s nuclear programme: Origins and progress.- 4. Nuclear doctrine as a continuation of factional politics by other means, 1964-1971.- 5. Elite stability and nuclear doctrine formulation, 1978-1989.- 6. Conclusions.

Paolo Rosa is Professor of Political Science at the School of International Studies of the University of Trento, Italy. He is an associate of the EU Non-proliferation Consortium. His main research interests include Foreign Policy Analysis, Italian Foreign and Military Behaviour, Chinese Politics, Strategic Culture, Quantitative Analysis of Conflicts, and Peace Research.

• 1. Introduction: Competing explanations for the underdevelopment of China’s nuclear doctrine.- 2. A neoclassical realist approach to military doctrines.- 3. China’s nuclear programme: Origins and progress.- 4. Nuclear doctrine as a continuation of factional politics by other means, 1964-1971.- 5. Elite stability and nuclear doctrine formulation, 1978-1989.- 6. Conclusions.