Arms Races
Definition
An arms race refers to a competition between nations for superiority in the development and accumulation of weapons.
Analogy
Think of an arms race as two rival schools constantly trying to outdo each other by getting better sports equipment, hiring better coaches, or building bigger stadiums.
Related terms
Deterrence Theory: The idea that having superior military strength or powerful weapons can prevent attacks by other countries. It's like a school bully thinking twice about picking on someone who has shown they can fight back.
Disarmament: The reduction or elimination of a country's weapon stockpiles. Imagine if those rival schools decided to stop competing and instead focus on improving their education systems.
Proliferation: The rapid increase or spread of something, often used in reference to nuclear weapons. Like if suddenly every school started focusing on upgrading their sports facilities, leading to an 'athletic facility proliferation'.
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