Peace Through Strength Doctrine Analyzed in Recent Academic Publication

The theory of “peace through strength” remains a subject of analysis in international relations, with recent academic work exploring its origins and implications. A new article in The SAIS Review of International Affairs examines how this doctrine has influenced policy and debate.

Philip Finkelstein, an independent journalist with a background in international relations, authored the article “Peace Through Strength: Doctrine, Dilemma, or Delusion?”. The publication discusses how military power is theorized to prevent conflict by increasing the risks for potential aggressors, a concept rooted in neorealist thinking.

The article references Thomas Schelling’s idea of the “power to hurt,” which suggests that the ability to inflict damage can serve as a deterrent. This approach to deterrence relies on maintaining credibility and convincing adversaries that any aggression would result in unacceptable costs.

During the Cold War, the strategy of mutually assured destruction (MAD) institutionalized deterrence by requiring both superpowers to invest heavily in nuclear arsenals. The article notes that these irreversible investments aimed to prevent direct conflict between major powers.

What the numbers show

• The phrase “peace through strength” dates to Neville Chamberlain’s campaign from 1936–1939
• The Cold War era saw the development of mutually assured destruction (MAD
• Proxy conflicts occurred in Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan despite MAD

Although MAD may have prevented direct war between the United States and the Soviet Union, the article explains that it did not stop indirect confrontations. Conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan are cited as examples where superpowers engaged in proxy wars instead of direct military action.

The article also discusses the broader context of “peace through strength” as a theory associated with realpolitik and deterrence. This concept proposes that the presence of strong military capabilities can help maintain peace by discouraging potential adversaries from initiating conflict.

According to the article, the phrase “peace through strength” likely originated with Neville Chamberlain’s public relations efforts in the late 1930s. The doctrine has since been referenced in various policy debates and strategic doctrines.

Some critics, such as Andrew Bacevich, have stated that reliance on military power may not always prevent war and can sometimes contribute to the outbreak of conflict. The article presents these differing perspectives as part of the ongoing debate over the effectiveness of deterrence-based strategies in international affairs.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.