What theory posits that if both sides cannot survive a nuclear war, no one would initiate one?

The theory that suggests if both sides cannot survive a nuclear war, then no one would initiate one is known as Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). This concept emerged during the Cold War and underscores the idea that the potential consequences of nuclear conflict would be so catastrophic for both the attacker and the defender that it would deter either side from starting a nuclear war. Essentially, if both nations possess the capability to inflict unacceptable damage on each other, the knowledge that engaging in such a conflict would lead to total annihilation acts as a powerful disincentive to launch a first strike.

In contrast, Nuclear Deterrence Theory broadly encompasses the strategies involving the threat of retaliation to prevent nuclear war but does not specifically emphasize the mutual destruction aspect. Containment Theory refers to the strategy aimed at preventing the expansion of a hostile power and does not focus specifically on nuclear weapons. The Balance of Power theory deals with maintaining national security through an equilibrium of power among states, but it too does not directly address the implications of nuclear warfare and mutual destruction in the way MAD does.