The Stability-Instability Paradox

Might nuclear weapons lead to more conflict?

Takeaway Points

1. Having nuclear weapons acts as an insurance policy—even if you lose a war militarily, the nuclear weapons protect you from invasion.
2. This has a second-order effect of reducing the risks and costs of war.
3. Thus, nuclear weapons might provide stability from large-scale wars but may cause instability in the form of more smaller-scale wars.