Perspectives on Deterrence

This book examines deterrence theory, using a multidisciplinary approach to look for evidence of its validity. The contributors aim to understand the conditions under which a strong threat of punishment produces either restraint in an adversary or leads to undesired military escalation, as it seems to have done in some international crises in the past. It looks at qualitative and quantitative studies of international military crises and game theoretical models. It also considers indirect evidence from the study of international trade conflicts, revolutions, interpersonal conflict and small market competition. It concludes that deterrence theory is neither valid nor invalid and that it is more productive to look for conditional statements about when the theory holds true.