challenges to deterrence: brinkmanship + cuban missile crisis

nuclear weapons meant strategy was..

political, not military

war gaming at RAND

civilian experts used game theory to express ideas on nuclear strategy

prisoner’s dilemma

two individuals, acting in their own rational self-interest, end up with a worse outcome than if they had cooperated

game of chicken

two adversaries compete, each risking a catastrophic outcome if neither backs down

strategy of stable conflict

managing tensions and rivalry with another, rather than seeking victory

nuclear pacifism

from 1945, powerful “nuclear pacifism” in US society

• pro-disarmament, stabilization was next best option

contest of resolve (pain)

as war continues, costs and suffering increases so hopefully one will back down

contest of resolve (risk)

escalate risk of nuclear war, instead of nuke use

bay of pigs 1961

CIA-backed attempt to overthrow fidel castro's communist government

cuban missile crisis

US discovered via spy planes that soviet union placed nuclear missiles in cuba for self-defense

us response to cuba + outcome

puts a blockade on them so soviets remove missiles, publicly US pledges to not invade cuba, privately agrees to remove missiles in turkey

after cuban missile crisis

percieved risk of war high enough to scare US and soviet populaces, cold war