Week 5

Nuclear Deterrence

The strategy of maintaining a credible threat of nuclear retaliation to deter adversaries from using nuclear weapons.

Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)

A doctrine in which both sides in a conflict possess enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other, ensuring that a nuclear war cannot be won.

Security Dilemma

A situation in which one state’s efforts to enhance its security causes insecurity in other states, often leading to an arms race.

Nuclear Posture

The strategy and stance a state adopts regarding the deployment and potential use of nuclear weapons.

Minimum Deterrence

A doctrine that involves maintaining a basic level of nuclear arsenal sufficient to deter an attack without seeking nuclear superiority.

Limited Deterrence

A strategy aimed at deterring opponents through a smaller, yet still credible, nuclear force focused on key threats.

Maximum Deterrence

A strategy that seeks to achieve nuclear superiority over adversaries through the expansion and sophistication of nuclear arsenals.

Escalation

The process by which conflicts between nuclear-armed states might intensify or lead to the use of nuclear weapons.

Brinkmanship

The practice of pushing dangerous situations to the edge of disaster in order to achieve favorable outcomes.

Overkill

The military capability to destroy an enemy multiple times over, far exceeding necessary defensive or deterrent requirements.

Two-Person Rule

A safety measure requiring that at least two authorized individuals be involved in the decision-making process for launching nuclear weapons.

Permissive Action Links (PALs)

Security devices designed to prevent unauthorized use of nuclear weapons by requiring specific codes to arm them.

Command and Control (C2)

The systems and protocols established to manage, secure, and authorize the use of nuclear weapons.

Counter-Value Targeting

Targeting strategy focused on an opponent's economic and civilian infrastructure rather than military assets.

Counter-Force Targeting

Targeting strategy focused on an opponent's military forces and installations with the objective of disabling their capabilities.

Nuclear Triad

A military strategy that employs three distinct platforms for delivering nuclear weapons: land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and strategic bombers.

Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM Treaty)

A 1972 agreement between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that limited the deployment of missile defense systems to ensure the viability of MAD.