How can first strike advantages lead to war?
Takeaway Points
- Preemptive war occurs when the advantages of striking first outweigh the costs of war, thus destroying the bargaining range.
- First strike advantages rarely outweigh those costs, so we don’t think preemptive wars occur frequently.
- Smaller first strike advantages reduce the size of the bargaining range regardless, so those advantages can contribute to the outbreak of other types of wars.
- Preemptive war is distinctly different from preventive war. Do not confuse the two.
