Cold War Era Questions
Mutually assured destruction (MAD) is a concept that emerged during the Cold War and refers to the idea that if two or more nuclear-armed nations engage in a full-scale nuclear war, the result would be the complete annihilation of both sides. This concept played a crucial role in nuclear deterrence during the Cold War. The belief was that the possession of a large nuclear arsenal by both the United States and the Soviet Union would prevent either side from initiating a nuclear attack, as the consequences would be catastrophic for both parties. The fear of mutual destruction acted as a deterrent, ensuring that neither side would risk starting a nuclear war. This concept of MAD helped maintain a tense but stable balance of power between the two superpowers, as both understood the devastating consequences that would result from any aggressive action.