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Brinkmanship: meaning, definitions and examples

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brinkmanship

 

[ ˈbrɪŋk.mən.ʃɪp ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

political strategy

Brinkmanship is a strategy in international relations in which one or both parties push a dangerous situation to the brink of conflict to achieve an advantageous outcome. This tactic often involves taking extreme steps that can escalate tensions, forcing the opposing side to back down.

Synonyms

dangerous strategy, extreme negotiation, risk-taking

Examples of usage

  • The leaders engaged in brinkmanship during the negotiations.
  • Brinkmanship can lead to catastrophic consequences if not managed carefully.
  • His brinkmanship kept the opposing country on edge.
  • The cold war was characterized by nuclear brinkmanship between superpowers.

Translations

Translations of the word "brinkmanship" in other languages:

🇵🇹 jogo de poder

🇮🇳 ध्रुवीकरण की नीति

🇩🇪 Erpressungspolitik

🇮🇩 taktik risiko

🇺🇦 блеф

🇵🇱 gra na krawędzi

🇯🇵 brinkmanship

🇫🇷 politique du risque

🇪🇸 politica de riesgo

🇹🇷 risk politikası

🇰🇷 위기 정치

🇸🇦 سياسة حافة الخطر

🇨🇿 hrát na hranu

🇸🇰 hra o okraj

🇨🇳 边缘政策

🇸🇮 igra na rob

🇮🇸 brinkmanship

🇰🇿 қатерлі саясат

🇬🇪 საზღვარზე თამაში

🇦🇿 risk siyasəti

🇲🇽 política de riesgo

Etymology

The term 'brinkmanship' originated during the Cold War era, particularly in the context of nuclear diplomacy and military strategy. Coined by U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles in the 1950s, the word combines 'brink,' referring to the edge or verge of something (often of danger), with 'manship,' indicating a skill or craft. It was developed to describe the intense political tactics employed between the United States and the Soviet Union, where both sides would approach the edge of armed conflict, relying on the threat of nuclear capabilities to deter the other side from aggressive actions. Over the years, brinkmanship has been applied to various geopolitical situations beyond nuclear incidents, extending its relevance in discussions of international relations and strategic negotiations.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,260, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.