Mutually Assured Destruction

Definition

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) is a military doctrine in which the use of nuclear weapons by two or more opposing sides would lead to the complete annihilation of both belligerents. The concept is based on the premise that a full-scale nuclear war would result in the destruction of both the attacker and the defender, making such an attack an unwinnable and irrational course of action for both sides.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Mutually Assured Destruction is based on the principle that a full-scale nuclear war would result in the complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender.
2. The doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction emerged during the Cold War as a deterrent strategy to prevent nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union.
3. Mutually Assured Destruction relies on the concept of nuclear deterrence, where the threat of massive retaliation deters an adversary from initiating a nuclear attack.
4. The nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War was driven in part by the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction, as both sides sought to maintain a strategic advantage.
5. The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) were diplomatic negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union aimed at limiting the development and deployment of strategic nuclear weapons, in an effort to reduce the risks of Mutually Assured Destruction.

Review Questions

• Explain how the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction served as a deterrent strategy during the Cold War.
  • The doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) served as a deterrent strategy during the Cold War by establishing the understanding that a full-scale nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union would result in the complete annihilation of both sides. The threat of such mutually assured destruction, where neither side could emerge victorious, acted as a powerful deterrent, as both countries recognized that initiating a nuclear attack would be an irrational and unwinnable course of action. This mutual fear of assured destruction helped prevent the outbreak of a direct nuclear conflict between the two superpowers during the tense period of the Cold War.
• Describe the relationship between the nuclear arms race and the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction.
  • The nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War was closely linked to the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). As both countries sought to maintain a strategic advantage over their adversary, they engaged in a competitive build-up of nuclear weapons. This nuclear arms race was driven in part by the need to ensure a sufficient retaliatory capability to deter the other side from launching a nuclear attack, as the doctrine of MAD dictated that the use of such weapons would lead to the complete destruction of both parties. The desire to achieve nuclear superiority and ensure the credibility of the MAD deterrent was a key factor in fueling the escalation of the nuclear arms race between the two superpowers.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) in addressing the risks posed by Mutually Assured Destruction.
  • The Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) were diplomatic negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union aimed at limiting the development and deployment of strategic nuclear weapons, with the goal of reducing the risks associated with Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). The SALT agreements, such as SALT I and SALT II, sought to establish limitations on the number and types of nuclear weapons held by both countries, as well as restrictions on the development of new weapon systems. While the SALT negotiations represented an important step towards arms control and nuclear disarmament, their overall effectiveness in addressing the risks posed by MAD was limited. The continued nuclear arms race, the lack of comprehensive verification measures, and the eventual collapse of the SALT process all contributed to the persistent threat of MAD throughout the Cold War period. Ultimately, the SALT talks highlighted the challenges of negotiating effective arms control agreements in the context of the nuclear standoff and the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction.

Related terms

Nuclear Deterrence:

The strategy of using the threat of nuclear retaliation to prevent an adversary from attacking with nuclear weapons, as the consequences would be mutually destructive.

Nuclear Arms Race: The competitive build-up of nuclear weapons by countries, driven by the desire to maintain or acquire a strategic advantage over their adversaries.

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT): Diplomatic negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union aimed at limiting the development and deployment of strategic nuclear weapons.