The Policy Of Mutually Assured Destruction

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Credit:
Show Created by Daniel Turner (B.A. (Hons) in History, University College London)
Script:
Narrator:

Chris Kane

[Sumschmuck]

Long story short, MAD is essentially just the worlds largest and longest Mexican standoff

[hankpikuni]

MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) vs DAMM (Drunks Against Mad Mothers)

[Persona-Is-Trash]

"Leaving this world is not as scary as it sounds."

[Gamer]

We had a movie about this. Now we have game that shows the effects of MAD: DEFCON. The game's tagline? "Everybody dies". In nuclear war, you can't hope to win. Because it's a game where there are no winners. Everyone who plays it loses. You can only hope that you lose the least.

[marcoamazo]

So basically this could lead to a fallout scenario just minus the vaults

[UnbarablePain]

There's a fair argument that many huge conventional wars were avoided in the past 70+ years becuase of MAD. With the threat of escalating to nuclear war it prevented direct large scale military action between the Soviets and NATO.

[ExpeditionQuest]

So it's basically "I hurt you, you out me, I hurt everything and everyone you love" or as someone said in the comments "Longest and largest Mexican stand-off"

[Tanaicus]

0:30 "Calm down, Stalin" reference

[Coolouie]

I literally learnt this in History class today lol 😅

[stevengreen]

Yet the public at large will never know how many times. We came so close to nuclear annihilation due to an accident.

[twistedyogert]

What happens if the leader is insane or so fanatical that they don't care if they go down with their ship?
I'm not entirely certain that MAD is even applicable in an era of suicide bombers.

[moisesyome]

I am aware of this mentality, but i am not sure it is accurate. I mean, what about countries wothout nukes? Are thry depending on allies with nukes?

[Squid_gardens]

But that is if a very big if the missle has fuel or water in it and if they even work …. One country knows they work they just loose them.

[michaellong]

I like the little reference to Dr. Strangelove at the end there (the war room).

[NoxWyatt]

You speak of mutually assured destruction
Nice story, tell it to Reader’s Digest!

[Your-Least-Favorite-Stranger]

Translation: Cold War 2, Electric Boogaloo.

[scheimong]

Sounds crazy but it has worked pretty well since its inception 🤷

[panthersherman]

The world: alright so let’s not have a nuclear war as that’ll end both sides.
America: I’m okay with that unless if attacked first
Russia/Soviet Union: da same
Poland: uh…………. No. *grabs the article 5 button* I’m just waiting an excuse to reclaim Moscow even if it means MAD has to happen. Do it. Make my day. MAD is far better than occupation.

[rustynails]

Risk of escalation:

The very nature of MAD could create a dangerous dynamic where a limited nuclear attack could rapidly escalate into a full-scale nuclear exchange due to fear of retaliation. 







Psychological impact:

The constant threat of nuclear annihilation can create widespread anxiety and fear among populations, impacting societal stability.