Theory of nuclear strategy.
Nations can deter other nations from attacking them by the knowledge of certain retaliation. The most familiar form of such retaliation is possession of (sufficient) nuclear weapons.
Also see: balance of terror, mutually assured destruction
Source:
Graham Evans and Geoffrey Newnham, The Dictionary of World Politics (Hemel Hempstead, 1990)
Deterrence may refer to:
- Deterrence theory, a theory of war, especially regarding nuclear weapons
- Deterrence (penology), a theory of justice
- Deterrence (psychology), a psychological theory
- Deterrence (film), a 1999 drama starring Kevin Pollak, depicting fictional events about nuclear brinkmanship
- Nuclear deterrence