GOV 312L Exam 3 Review Questions
and All Correct Answers 2026
Updated.
How have nuclear weapons influenced US foreign policy since 1945? - Answer 1945: US used
nuclear weapons against Japan (Pearl Harbor)
The development and use of weapons against Japan ended WWII with fewer casualties, and
influenced the SU to stay out of the Pacific War.
The US was competing against other global powers to develop atomic weapons.
How have nuclear weapons complicated the provision of national security? - Answer In the
conventional era, a country would protect territory & civilians with defense. Nuclear weapons
shifted US national security strategy from defense to deterrence.
*The US, Soviet Union, North Korea, Israel, China, Britain, France, India, and Pakistan all have
nuclear weapons.
According to your reading for this module, what is the nuclear revolution? - Answer 1)
Shorter Duration
2) Targeting of non-combatants
3) Change the relationship between winning vs. losing
What is deterrence? - Answer Deterrence → based on threats; an actor tries to prevent
harmful behavior by threatening to retaliate. EX: national security through threats to use force
(US and SU in early stages of Cold War)
Three causes of nuclear deterrence: the problem of credibility, national missile defense, and
nuclear proliferation
What is a secure second-strike capability and how does it affect nuclear deterrence? - Answer
Second Strike Capability → sufficient number of nuclear weapons so that all cannot be
destroyed in a first strike by an adversary.
- If both sides secure a second strike capability, then both sides are deterred from launching
war.
, Mutually Assured Destruction → condition between two nuclear states in which each has a
second strike capability to ensure that both states will sustain damages and not have an
advantage.
Under what conditions might nuclear weapons paradoxically make war less likely?
What is the problem of credibility in nuclear deterrence? Explain why the effectiveness of
deterrent threats depends on credibility. - Answer Nuclear Deterrence presents a paradox:
mutually assured destruction promotes caution and avoidance of war between nuclear armed
states, yet states fear the immense destructive capacity of nuclear weapons.
The Problem of Credibility: an adversary must believe that threats will actually be carried out.
Discuss how credibility is based on capabilities and resolve. - Answer Capabilities → the
ability to carry out the threat
- (EX: NK nuclear and missile tests)
Resolve → the will to carry out the threat
- Thomas Schelling: the threat that leaves something to chance
- EX: Tripwire forces-- small, military units stationed at global hotspots
How does a state demonstrate credibility in nuclear deterrence? Understand measures to
demonstrate credibility such as brinkmanship, tripwire forces, "the threat that leaves something
to chance", and public pronouncements made by democracies. - Answer States enhance
capabilities by improving their weapons system.
States enhance their resolve by managing risk during crises
Brinkmanship → aggressive risk-taking in the hopes of gaining a bargaining advantage (EX:
Kennedy ordering a quarantine of Cuba)
How might national missile defense influence the stability of nuclear deterrence? - Answer
National Missile Defense → uses satellite and missile technology to destroy missiles before they
reach their target.
If effective, NMD could undermine an adversary's second strike capability and threaten mutually
assured destruction.
EX: Reagan's Strategic Defense
and All Correct Answers 2026
Updated.
How have nuclear weapons influenced US foreign policy since 1945? - Answer 1945: US used
nuclear weapons against Japan (Pearl Harbor)
The development and use of weapons against Japan ended WWII with fewer casualties, and
influenced the SU to stay out of the Pacific War.
The US was competing against other global powers to develop atomic weapons.
How have nuclear weapons complicated the provision of national security? - Answer In the
conventional era, a country would protect territory & civilians with defense. Nuclear weapons
shifted US national security strategy from defense to deterrence.
*The US, Soviet Union, North Korea, Israel, China, Britain, France, India, and Pakistan all have
nuclear weapons.
According to your reading for this module, what is the nuclear revolution? - Answer 1)
Shorter Duration
2) Targeting of non-combatants
3) Change the relationship between winning vs. losing
What is deterrence? - Answer Deterrence → based on threats; an actor tries to prevent
harmful behavior by threatening to retaliate. EX: national security through threats to use force
(US and SU in early stages of Cold War)
Three causes of nuclear deterrence: the problem of credibility, national missile defense, and
nuclear proliferation
What is a secure second-strike capability and how does it affect nuclear deterrence? - Answer
Second Strike Capability → sufficient number of nuclear weapons so that all cannot be
destroyed in a first strike by an adversary.
- If both sides secure a second strike capability, then both sides are deterred from launching
war.
, Mutually Assured Destruction → condition between two nuclear states in which each has a
second strike capability to ensure that both states will sustain damages and not have an
advantage.
Under what conditions might nuclear weapons paradoxically make war less likely?
What is the problem of credibility in nuclear deterrence? Explain why the effectiveness of
deterrent threats depends on credibility. - Answer Nuclear Deterrence presents a paradox:
mutually assured destruction promotes caution and avoidance of war between nuclear armed
states, yet states fear the immense destructive capacity of nuclear weapons.
The Problem of Credibility: an adversary must believe that threats will actually be carried out.
Discuss how credibility is based on capabilities and resolve. - Answer Capabilities → the
ability to carry out the threat
- (EX: NK nuclear and missile tests)
Resolve → the will to carry out the threat
- Thomas Schelling: the threat that leaves something to chance
- EX: Tripwire forces-- small, military units stationed at global hotspots
How does a state demonstrate credibility in nuclear deterrence? Understand measures to
demonstrate credibility such as brinkmanship, tripwire forces, "the threat that leaves something
to chance", and public pronouncements made by democracies. - Answer States enhance
capabilities by improving their weapons system.
States enhance their resolve by managing risk during crises
Brinkmanship → aggressive risk-taking in the hopes of gaining a bargaining advantage (EX:
Kennedy ordering a quarantine of Cuba)
How might national missile defense influence the stability of nuclear deterrence? - Answer
National Missile Defense → uses satellite and missile technology to destroy missiles before they
reach their target.
If effective, NMD could undermine an adversary's second strike capability and threaten mutually
assured destruction.
EX: Reagan's Strategic Defense
