The Strategy of Conflict analyzes international disagreements and conflict resolution through the lens of game theory and non-zero-sum games. It explores the international politics of threat, specifically focusing on deterrence as a strategic concept. The book's core argument centers on understanding how nations engage in conflict and seek resolution by framing these interactions as strategic games with calculable outcomes.
Readers will gain insight into how threats function within international relations and the dynamics of deterrence. The book's approach offers a structured way to think about disputes and potential resolutions by treating them as games where the strategies of opposing players, and the potential for mutual gain or loss, are central to understanding the conflict.
Key concepts
- Game theory — A mathematical framework for analyzing strategic decision-making in situations involving multiple interacting agents.
- Non-zero-sum games — Situations where the total gains and losses of all participants do not necessarily add up to zero, allowing for mutually beneficial outcomes.
- Threat (in international politics) — The strategic use of potential harm or punishment to influence the behavior of another nation.
- Deterrence — A strategy aimed at discouraging an adversary from taking a particular action through the threat of retaliation.