Mutually assured destruction
Introduction
Mutually Assured Destruction (or MAD) was one of the primary Cold War strategies of the United States and Soviet Union. The basic premise was:
- Both sides had the capacity to destroy the other completely
- Both sides ultimately wished to survive
- Neither side could preemptively strike the other without assured and complete retaliation
- Therefore, neither side would initiate nuclear war
MAD was both reviled and praised during the Cold War. Game theorists spent much time debating various changes in policy and their effect on MAD. In the academic formulation, when M.A.D. is in effect, cooperation became a dominant strategy in the Prisoner's dilemma so long as defection would not lead to any discernible benefit.
As a general rule, a 400 megaton supply of nuclear warheads is sufficient to assure the destruction of large nation, so in calculating nuclear stockpiles to determine if "M.A.D." exists, the goal is to see if you can eliminate the opposition's stockpile in a first strike to below 400 megatons. If you can, then, in the grim calculus of nuclear war, first strike becomes an option.
Stability vs. Instability
Alterations in the basic premeses of MAD had the potential to destabilize the balance between the US and USSR, possibly igniting nuclear conflict. Therefore, much time and energy went into debating even small changes in policy.
Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty
Anti-Ballistic Missile systems (ABMs) are weapons systems designed to intercept and destroy incoming weapons systems, usually Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). Since this could theoretically prevent a fatal retaliatory strike from an opponent, ABMs are considered inherently destabilizing. This fact lead to the ABM treaty, which allowed both sides limited deployment of ABM systems. Current American governmental policy sees this treaty as having become irrelevant with the demise of the USSR.
Strategic Defense Initiative
The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), which began development under the Regan administration, was thought by some groups, especially the Union of Concerned Scientists, to represent a destabilization of MAD.