Nuclear Deterrence: An Alternative Model

Deterrence is often described as two armed opponents facing each other but neither attacking because of the threat of retaliation by the other. This mistake lies in an imagery that sees the opposing parties as though each were individual persons or small groups. This article views strategic conflict as emerging from large-scale systems containing many individuals performing many different roles. By examining the adaptive tendencies of these systems, an alternate perception of moral and rational deterrence is developed.