what is brinkmanship?

Answer 1

Brinkmanship is the policy or practice of pushing a dangerous situation to the brink of disaster in order to achieve the most advantageous outcome. It occurs in international politics, foreign policy and (in contemporary settings) in military strategy involving the threatened use of nuclear weapons.

This maneuver of pushing a situation to the brink succeeds by forcing the opposition to back down and make concessions. This might be achieved through diplomatic maneuvers by creating the impression that one is willing to use extreme methods rather than concede. During the Cold War, the threat of nuclear force was often used as such an escalating measure.

Answer 2

Developed during the Cold War, as a point of view to handle the reality of ballistic missile warfare. In effect to be hypervigilent, at ready , all the time, SAC has a B-52 with the bomb, at ready 24/7. It's called a "Crested Dove", and it's brinkmanship. MinuteMan III are located in the south, a few near Tucson, always ready, targeted, does Defcon mean anything to you. Black op satillites watch 24/7 for the signiture of a main booster lift off. Boomer ballistic subs stay a sea forever with enough fire power in their tridents to cause large parts of the planet to be sterilized. It's a little better since Reagan and Snowcroft arranged a deal called START with the Russians. But it'll never be completely gone, brinkmanship is here to stay, do you know fear, it is here. 50 megatons before lunch. ruin your day. Every city of more that 5000 people has at least 7 city busters targeted on it. The Russians just hate this, and we have the same problem. Can you believe the Iranians wish to be so targeted. Brinkmanship with the Iranians could be unpredictable, and that would be a shame. They'll get everybody in the nuke club to target them. Hundreds if not thousands of nukes are going to be ready at a moments notice to decend upon Iran. Can anybody talk to these people?

Answer 3

Staring into the black abyss of war, especially a nuclear war, will give you of what 'brink' they talk about. Threatening war or provacative actions that lead to war are used by countries to get what they want especially when they can't get it at the conference table.

A synonym for brinksmanship would be 'sabre rattling'.