138 - Deterrence, Rationality, and Risk: Rethinking Nuclear Strategy

In this episode of The NIDS View, Adam is joined by Jim and Curtis to dissect the Foreign Affairs article “Nuclear Powers, Conventional Wars: The Dangerous Erosion of Deterrence” by Carter Malkasian and Zachary Constantino. The trio challenges the article’s assumptions, exploring the limits of rational choice theory and the relevance of prospect theory in understanding deterrence behavior. The discussion dives into why weaker states still challenge nuclear powers, how leaders assess risk, and why nuclear weapons may still be the cornerstone of global stability. Get Involved with more NIDS Services: https://thinkdeterrence.com/ Deterrence Education at NIDS https://thinkdeterrence.com/deterrence-education/ Listen to our Podcasts https://thinkdeterrence.com/outreach/ Like and follow us – The NIDS View: https://media.rss.com/nuclearview/feed.xml LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thinkdeterrence X.com: https://x.com/thinkdeterrence YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyGa4dcPqONWzjmbuZMOBHQ Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/NIDSthinkdeterrence Global Security Review: https://globalsecurityreview.com Our Free Events: https://thinkdeterrence.com/events/