POLSCI 2MN3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Mutual Assured Destruction, Dr. Strangelove, Mushroom Cloud
11 Mar 2020
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Nuclear deterrence: deterrence: the idea that the cost of aggression will exceed the reward of the aggression, 2 conditions required for successful deterrence, capability, will/resolve, both require to make the deterrent credible. Mutually assured destruction: mad: because both sides can inflict unimaginable harm there is an absence of war (this doesn"t equal peace). Irony: the possession of nuclear weapons actually leads to the avoidance of war. What does the movie tell us about mad: under mad retaliation must be credible, automating retaliation, strangelove: not only possible, but essential, preventing enemy with fear of attacking. Potential failures within mad: control: one cannot devolve authority and retain central control at the same time. Ripper"s attack order to his bomber wing) - someone may initiate a nuclear war without the required permissions: believing victory is possible victory must be seen as impossible under mad.
