The arms race led to the doctrine of mutually assured destruction from "summary" of The Making of the Atomic Bomb by Richard Rhodes
The arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union had reached a point where both sides had accumulated enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other many times over. This destructive capability created a sense of mutual vulnerability, leading to a new strategic doctrine known as "mutually assured destruction."Under this doctrine, both superpowers understood that any nuclear attack would result in catastrophic retaliation, effectively ensuring that neither side would initiate a nuclear war. The fear of devastating consequences acted as a deterrent against aggressive military actions, as both nations recognized the futility of escalating conflict to nuclear levels. As the nuclear arsenals of both countries con...
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