POL 271 Chapter Notes - Chapter 25: Massive Retaliation, Western World, Marshall Plan
19 Dec 2016
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Credibility is simultaneously needed with capability; the target must believe an actor will fulfill their threat because of the actor"s reputation. +1) comparing the actor"s capability to the target"s capability. +2) past actions and present behavior of the actor. Threats aren"t credible if the target has the capability to also face off against the actor. +example: massive retaliation lots its credibility when the soviet union gained operational nuclear missiles meaning an attack from the united states was suicidal. Economic interdependence among the west has reduced the threat credibility because hurting another western nation would also greatly hurt that nation. Because past behavior factors into credibility, extreme threats can reduce credibility because it isn"t likely an actor will follow through with an extreme. A target may comply easily if they believe an actor puts their goal above everything else, even survival. No matter what, the success of a threat relies on the target"s willingness to comply.
