brinkmanship
Dangerous diplomatic gambling
Brinkmanship is the practice of pushing a dangerous situation to the edge of disaster to achieve an advantage, especially in politics or diplomacy.
The term evokes standing at the brink of a cliff—going as far as possible without falling.
During the Cold War, nuclear brinkmanship meant threatening catastrophic war to force concessions: The Cuban Missile Crisis was brinkmanship at its most terrifying.
The word implies calculated risk, though critics suggest the calculation is often reckless.
Of atomic energy
- MADMutual annihilation doctrine
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- missilesSelf-propelled guided weapons
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
Cuban · superpower · arsenal · retaliation · nonproliferation · containment · counterforce · warhead
Discussion seeking mutual accord
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
- talksSpeaks with others
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
summit · parley · ultimatum · concession · standoff · stalemate · impasse · confrontation
Progressive increase in intensity
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- pressureForce upon contact
apprehension · suspense · strain · crisis · nerves · unease · volatility · charged
Stake on uncertain outcome
recklessness · calculated · vulnerability · exposure · precariousness · instability · wagering · speculation
Steep rock face
- cliffVertical rock wall
- abyssImmeasurably profound depth
- vergeBorder or cusp
- thresholdPoint of beginning
cusp · borderline · limit · redline · razor · knife-edge · boundary · flashpoint
nuclear
Of atomic energy
- MADMutual annihilation doctrine
- escalationProgressive increase in intensity
- missilesSelf-propelled guided weapons
standoff · Cuban · superpower · arsenal · retaliation · nonproliferation · containment · counterforce · warhead · deterrent
negotiation
Discussion seeking mutual accord
- diplomacyNegotiation between nations
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
- talksSpeaks with others
mediation · summit · parley · ultimatum · concession · standoff · stalemate · impasse · confrontation · showdown
escalation
Progressive increase in intensity
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
pressure · apprehension · suspense · strain · crisis · nerves · unease · volatility · charged · showdown
gamble
Stake on uncertain outcome
jeopardy · recklessness · calculated · vulnerability · exposure · precariousness · instability · wagering · speculation · chance
precipice
Steep rock face
threshold · cusp · borderline · limit · redline · razor · knife-edge · boundary · flashpoint · crossroads
- negotiationbargaining, bargain, negotiate, mediation, compromise
- High Stakesdo-or-die, do or die, make-or-break, make or break, life or death
- intimidationthreats, threatening, menacing, intimidate, bullying
- Negotiation Termsdeadlock, bargaining, negotiation, stalemate, compromise
- tensionsstrain, friction, hostility, discord, strife
- Cold WarBerlin Wall, Iron Curtain, arms race, Warsaw Pact, Cuban Missile Crisis
brinkmanshipappeasement
Satisfying demands to prevent conflict
conciliation · détente · accommodation · diplomacy · compromise
brinkmanshipcapitulation
Complete yielding to demands
surrender · concession · backing down · yielding · deference
brinkmanshiprisk aversion
Preference for certainty
caution · prudence · conservatism · playing it safe · hedging
- nuclear brinkmanshipRisking war for leverage
ship, ships, brink, mans, brinksmanship