What are the advantages of brinkmanship in war or politics?

Question

I understand the definition of brinkmanship is 'art or practice of going to the very edge of a dangerous situation (eg war) before moving back or withdrawing' but I can't quite imagine what good that brings as opposed to, say, attacking without withdrawing or withdrawing without going to the edge. Can anybody clarify this for me?

Answer 1

In the end, someone HAS to back down in order to avert full scale conflict. The one that flinches is the one that faces severe political losses on the home front.