Brinkmanship in the age of growing conflict and its impact on global order

The article defines brinkmanship as a strategy of pushing a dangerous situation to the brink of conflict to force concessions, a legacy of the Cold War. It discusses its resurgence in the post-Cold War era, particularly through terrorism and proxy conflicts, citing examples like Hamas-Israel and Iran's Strait of Hormuz blockade. It also analyzes how major powers like the U.S., Russia, China, and North Korea employ brinkmanship, noting its impact on global stability and the displacement of traditional diplomacy. The author suggests India's strategic DNA eschews such tactics, emphasizing the need for global introspection on this dangerous trend.

मुख्य बिंदु

  • Brinkmanship involves pushing a conflict to the edge to compel an adversary to yield, a tactic with roots in the Cold War era.
  • The article highlights the use of brinkmanship by non-state actors (terrorism) and in proxy conflicts, exemplified by Hamas-Israel and Pakistan/Iran's actions.
  • Major powers like the U.S., Russia, China, and North Korea utilize various forms of brinkmanship, from economic coercion to military posturing, impacting global geopolitical stability.
  • The increasing reliance on brinkmanship is seen as displacing traditional diplomacy and posing a threat to the fragile global order.
  • India's foreign policy is characterized by restraint and responsibility, avoiding brinkmanship even under severe provocation.

परीक्षा तथ्य

  • Brinkmanship was coined by Western political scientists in the 1950s and 1960s, analyzing crises like the Berlin Blockade (1948-49) and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).
  • Hamas attacks on Israel on October 23, 2023, are cited as an example of brinkmanship.
  • Russia's takeover of Crimea in 2014 and advance on Kyiv in February 2022 are mentioned in the context of its brinkmanship.

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स्पेस्ड-रिपीटिशन फ्लैशकार्ड, दैनिक क्विज़ और ऑफ़लाइन एक्सेस पाएं — एंड्रॉइड पर मुफ़्त।

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के सभी करेंट अफेयर्स 29 मई 2026