Brinkmanship
Brinkmanship
Overview:
The term “brinkmanship” is credited to U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and became known as the policy of Presidents Kennedy and Eisenhower. It was created in reference to being on the “brink of war.” Its tactic was to persuade the opponent to retreat or stand down due to the fear of starting a war. Its creation during the Cold War is prevalent because of the intense fear of mutually assured destruction by nuclear weapons between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Impact:
The concept of brinkmanship only worsened relations between the U.S. and Soviet Union during the Cold War. Brinkmanship played a large role in the Cuban Missile Crisis which occurred in October 1962. The U.S.S.R. placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, which endangered most of the United States. President Kennedy stated that if any missile was launched it would be considered an attack on the United States and the U.S. would invade. The U.S. Navy was also prepared to blockade Cuba from the new missile bases. However, within a few days, the Soviets began removing missiles from Cuba and the U.S. invasion was canceled. The events of the Cuban Missile Crisis put the U.S. and the U.S.S.R on the “brink of war.”
Overview:
The term “brinkmanship” is credited to U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and became known as the policy of Presidents Kennedy and Eisenhower. It was created in reference to being on the “brink of war.” Its tactic was to persuade the opponent to retreat or stand down due to the fear of starting a war. Its creation during the Cold War is prevalent because of the intense fear of mutually assured destruction by nuclear weapons between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Impact:
The concept of brinkmanship only worsened relations between the U.S. and Soviet Union during the Cold War. Brinkmanship played a large role in the Cuban Missile Crisis which occurred in October 1962. The U.S.S.R. placed nuclear missiles in Cuba, which endangered most of the United States. President Kennedy stated that if any missile was launched it would be considered an attack on the United States and the U.S. would invade. The U.S. Navy was also prepared to blockade Cuba from the new missile bases. However, within a few days, the Soviets began removing missiles from Cuba and the U.S. invasion was canceled. The events of the Cuban Missile Crisis put the U.S. and the U.S.S.R on the “brink of war.”