Difference between revisions of "Mutually assured destruction"
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#Therefore, neither side would initiate nuclear war | #Therefore, neither side would initiate nuclear war | ||
| − | MAD was both reviled and praised during the Cold War. [[Game Theory|Game theorists]] spent much time debating various changes in policy and their effect on MAD. | + | MAD was both reviled and praised during the Cold War. [[Game Theory|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. |
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| + | 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== | ==Stability vs. Instability== | ||
Revision as of 18:16, May 7, 2007
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.
Contents
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.
