Re. MAD --- Indeed, Ricardo. Even if war can be seen as a 'continuation of politics by other means', as affirmed by Clausewitz, the systemic effects and irreversibility of weapons of mass destruction (and dangers related to escalation of armed conflicts) mean that other strategies should be put in place to achieve foreign policy objectives. Resorting to economic sanctions seemed like a possible way forward in this scenario.

Source author: Marília Maciel MariliaM@diplomacy.edu