Arguments that Count: Physics, Computing, and Missile Defense, 1949-2012

338 Pages·2013·4.89 MB·English

by  Rebecca Slayton

Arguments that Count
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Arguments that Count
Physics, Computing, and Missile Defense, 1949–2012
Rebecca Slayton
The MIT Press
Cambridge, Massachusetts
London, England
© 2013 Massachusetts Institute of Technology
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any
electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information
storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from the publisher.
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write to Special Sales Department, The MIT Press, 55 Hayward Street, Cambridge,
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This book was set in Stone Sans and Stone Serif by the MIT Press. Printed and bound
in the United States of America.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Slayton, Rebecca, 1974-
Arguments that count : physics, computing, and missile defense, 1949-2012 /
Rebecca Slayton.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-262-01944-6 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. National security—United States—History—20th century. 2. National secu-
rity—United States—History—21st century. 3. Ballistic missile defenses—United
States—History. 4. Physicists—Political activity—United States—History. 5. Com-
puter scientists—Political activity—United States—History. 6. Physics—Political
aspects—United States—History. 7. Computer science—Political aspects—United
States—History. 8. Technological complexity—Political aspects—United States—
History. 9. Software engineering—Political aspects—United States—History. 10.
United States—Military policy. I. Title.
UA22.S57 2013
358.1'740973—dc23
2012051748
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
1 Software and the Race against Surprise Attack 17
2 Framing an “Appallingly Complex” System 41
3 Complexity and the “Art or Evolving Science” of Software 63
4 “No Technological Solution”? 85
5 What Crisis? Software in the “Safeguard” Debate 109
6 The Politics of Complex Technology 133
7 The Political Economy of Software Engineering 151
8 Nature and Technology in the Star Wars Debate 173
9 Conclusion: Complexity Unbound 199
Notes 227
Unpublished Sources and Notations 301
Index 305

Acknowledgments
It is a privilege and a joy to thank the many people who have made this
book possible. I began this project with the guidance and support of David
Kaiser and Hugh Gusterson, who hosted my National Science Foundation
postdoctoral project in MIT’s Science, Technology, and Society (STS) Pro-
gram. I am grateful for David’s and Hugh’s mentorship not only in the
initial phases of my research, but also in the decade that followed. I am also
thankful for the many scholars who sharpened my work during my time in
MIT’s STS program, including Anita Chan, Joe Dumit, Eden Medina, David
Mindell, Rachel Prentice, Jenny Smith, Peter Shulman, Susan Silbey, and
Roz Williams.
I turned my postdoctoral project into a book while working first as a
Science Fellow and then an Affiliate of Stanford’s Center for International
Security and Cooperation (CISAC). I am indebted to many scholars at
CISAC who helped me expand and clarify my research. First and foremost,
Lynn Eden has proven to be one of my fiercest critics and staunchest sup-
porters, reading numerous drafts, and always finding time to meet despite
her packed-full schedule. Lynn taught me how to write a book, and I am
deeply grateful. David Holloway has also given generously of his time, read-
ing and offering insightful comments on several portions of the book man-
uscript. Barton Bernstein pointed me to the archives time and again, and
combed meticulously through chapter drafts and redrafts. Charles Perrow,
Stanford’s “snowbird,” has inspired my analysis, read parts of the book,
and offered helpful comments for revision. I am also thankful for the sup-
port and insights of John Downer, Anne Harrington, Alex Montgomery,
Pavel Podvig, Brenna Powell, Karthika Sasikumar, and Jan Stupl. Members
of Stanford’s Science, Technology, and Society program, including Robert
McGinn, Eric Roberts, Selma Sabanovic, and Fred Turner also offered useful
conversations and encouragement along the way.