Chicken Pax Atomica: The Cold War Stability of Nuclear Deterrence

Abstract

Nuclear weapons, long considered the bête noire of human existence are examined in this article to

ascertain if the heinous effects they threaten ultimately serve to promote deterrence between pairs of

states. The findings suggest that nuclear weapons did have a significant impact on conflict when

present on both sides of dyadic disputes during the Cold War. In such symmetrical nuclear pairs

conflict levels are quantitatively shown to be reduced, suggesting that the conflict inhibiting qualities of

these weapons long espoused by nuclear optimists are legitimate.