MAD

Definition

MAD stands for Mutually Assured Destruction. It refers to the strategic doctrine during the Cold War where both the United States and the Soviet Union possessed enough nuclear weapons to inflict catastrophic damage on each other, creating a deterrence against direct conflict.

Related terms

Arms Race: The competition between nations to develop superior military capabilities, including nuclear weapons.

Deterrence: The strategy of discouraging an adversary from taking action by demonstrating the ability to respond with overwhelming force.

Nuclear Proliferation: The spread of nuclear weapons technology or materials to countries beyond those that already possess them.