Prisoner’s Dilemma & International Cooperation

What is the Prisoner’s Dilemma?

It’s a situation where two people (or countries) must decide whether to help each other or betray each other.

What is the Dominant Strategy

to betray

What is Second Strike Capability?

If a country is attacked with nuclear weapons, it still has enough weapons left to fight back and destroy the attacker.

What is Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)?

If two countries have nuclear weapons, they won’t attack each other because they know both would be completely destroyed. This fear stops them from fighting.

Tit-for-Tat Strategy

If someone cooperates, you cooperate next time. If they betray, you betray next time. This teaches people to work together.

Shadow of the Future:

If people (or countries) know they will interact again, they are more likely to be nice to avoid future problems.

Mafia Solution

If someone betrays, they are punished harshly, making others afraid to betray.

Hegemonic State

A very powerful country enforces the rules and keeps peace between weaker countries.

International Norms

Countries agree on rules and ways of behaving, making cooperation easier.

Opposition to Slavery

Over time, countries worked together to stop slavery because it was seen as wrong, showing how cooperation can change the world.