‘World war three’: A historical mirage?

Public belief in a major, convulsive military clash between East and West, marked by an apocalyptic nuclear exchange, is now widespread. It may be argued that such a conflict is scarcely in prospect, and that the notion of such a Third World War has little contemporary strategic value, either as a real prospect or a salutary myth. This article examines the strong contemporary reasons for the prominence of this image, and traces its fundamental roots in deceptive historical precedent.