Mutually Assured Destruction was a standing policy during the Cold War, in which the United States and the USSR maintained and expanded nuclear arsenals beyond practical levels. What could explain such a phenomenon?
A)Insane public officials who were bent on world domination.
B)A prisoner's dilemma.
C)A leader-follower type game.
D)Tacit collusion.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mutually Assured Destruction can be explained by the concept of the prisoner's dilemma. Both the US and the USSR had the incentive to develop and expand their nuclear arsenals for fear of being attacked by the other side. This led to a cycle of arms buildup that neither side could easily back down from without risking vulnerability. Each side expected the other to increase their nuclear capabilities, so they felt they had to as well. This created a situation where both sides were mutually deterred from launching a nuclear attack, because the resulting retaliation would lead to the complete destruction of both countries.

Mutually Assured Destruction Was a Standing Policy During the Cold