Nonviolent deterrence

Authors

Brian Martin, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

74556

Publication Details

Martin, B. (1989). 'Nonviolent deterrence', in G. Rodley (Eds.), Beyond Deterrence (pp. 259-264). Sydney: University of Sydney.

Link to publisher version (URL)

University of Sydney

Abstract

The Western Alliance model for deterrence theory is based on nuclear deterrence. The usual picture is that nuclear attack is deterred by the threat of nuclear retaliation. But this cannot be the whole picture. After all, there are lots of countries which do not have nuclear weapons, are not in a nuclear alliance and are not attacked. How, then, would countries such as Peru, Burma, Switzerland or Mali, or more recently New Zealand, ever escape being attacked by nuclear weapons? One answer is that there would be probably little to be gained by such an attack. Why not? An incredibly important factor is the world outrage that would be turned against the attacker.