Deterrence and Nuclear War

Question 1

Defense

Answer 1

Deployment of military power to ward off an attack or
minimize damage if attacked

Question 2

Deterrence

Answer 2

Prevent an adversary from doing something.

Question 3

Compellence

Answer 3

Make an adversary reverse behavior.

Question 4

Swaggering

Answer 4

Flexing muscles to show national pride.

Question 5

The Stability-Instability Paradox

Answer 5

Nukes deter total war.
Make lower levels of violence more likely.
e.g. The Cold War.

Question 6

Proliferation is Bad

Answer 6

Accidents
Terrorism
Emboldenment
Preventive War
Contagion Effects
U.S. (Almost) Always Opposes

Question 7

Fungible:

Answer 7

application in other areas
How does military power translate to influence in non-military arenas?

Question 8

Shortcomings of Force

Answer 8

Already seen that realist conceptions of power may not be fully accurate.
* Military superpowers sometimes lose wars.
* Don’t always get their way in diplomacy.
* Reputation.
* Soft power.
* Military force also may not be fungible.
* Competing perspectives.

Question 9

How Force Achieves Fungibility

Answer 9

Spill-over effects.
Shock waves of military force seep into other areas.

Military power and economic interdependence.
U.S. power -> stability -> opportunity for markets to flourish.

Linkage politics.
Issues in IR are linked.

Bargaining
Seeking outcomes that are better for both parties than possible alternatives but not ideal for either.
* A way to “win” a strategic interaction.

Question 10

Threats

Answer 10

Threats are usually deterrent.

Question 11

Promises

Answer 11

Promises are “positive” threats.