Deterrence

Definition

Deterrence in the context of international relations is a strategy aimed at preventing an adversary from taking an unwanted action, often through the threat of retaliatory consequences. It relies on the display of credible threats to maintain peace or prevent conflict.

Related terms

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD): A doctrine of military strategy where full-scale use of nuclear weapons by two opposing sides would cause the complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender.

Arms Race: A competition between two or more states to have superior armed forces; often involves the production and accumulation of weapons, especially between rivals.

Diplomacy: The management of international relations by negotiation and dialogue; it is used as a tool to implement strategies like deterrence without resorting to direct conflict