Peace through strength

"Peace through strength" is a conservative slogan^[1] supporting military strength for the purpose of creating peaceful international relations.

For supporters of the MX missile in the 1970s, the missile symbolized "peace through strength."^[2] The phrase was popular in political rallies during 1988.^[3] The idea is a major justification cited for large militaries, and also served as the primary motivation behind the Cold War doctrine of mutually assured destruction.^{[citation needed]}

Ronald Reagan used the phrase in political campaigning during his election challenge against Jimmy Carter, accusing the incumbent of weak, vacillating leadership that invited enemies to attack the USA and its allies.^[4] Reagan later considered it one of the mainstays of his foreign policy as President of the United States.^[5] Since Reagan's presidency, the non-profit American Security Council Foundation has sought to influence United States foreign policy by promoting the idea.^[6] The Heritage Foundation has used the term in print.^[7]

For Andrew Bacevich, "belief in the efficacy of military power almost inevitably breeds the temptation to put that power to work. 'Peace through strength' easily enough becomes 'peace through war.'"^[8]

Jim George of Australian National University used the term to describe part of what he argued was the Straussian and neoconservative foreign policy of the G.W. Bush administration.^[9]

See also

• Reagan Doctrine
• Si vis pacem, para bellum

References