| ID | 193175 |
| Title Proper | Red lines |
| Other Title Information | Enforcement, declaration, and ambiguity in the Cuban Missile Crisis |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Altman, Dan |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Using declassified materials to examine the eleven red lines of the Cuban Missile Crisis, this study qualifies and amends two popular beliefs about them: failing to punish violations damages credibility and deterrence requires declaring unambiguous red lines. I argue, first, that violations of red lines create fleeting ‘windows of credibility’ wherein violators fear retaliation. If declarers move quickly, they can convert non-enforcement into a bargaining chip, exchanging it for concessions while avoiding escalation. Second, rather than wholly embrace clarity or ambiguity, declarers frequently optimize by combining clear demands with ambiguity about the consequences of crossing those lines. |
| `In' analytical Note | Journal of Strategic Studies Vol. 46, No.5; Oct 2023: p.977-1009 |
| Journal Source | Journal of Strategic Studies Vol: 46 No 5 |
| Key Words | Cuban Missile Crisis ; Deterrence ; crisis ; Coercion ; Credibility ; Red Lines |