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PSIR Optional PYQ Solutions · Model answer

Discuss the utility of Nuclear Deterrence Theory in the context of the recent standoff between India and Pakistan.

  • UPSC 2019
  • 10 marks
  • Key Concepts in International Relations

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Nuclear deterrence theory holds that rivals with survivable second-strike forces cannot expect victory, so both avoid major war. Bernard Brodie (1946) saw the purpose of armed forces shift from winning wars to averting them; Thomas C. Schelling recast force as bargaining. The Pulwama–Balakot standoff of February 2019, and Operation Sindoor in May 2025, show both…

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  • Where the theory is useful
  • Where it falls short
  • Conclusion
PSIR Optional PYQ Solutions

PSIR Optional PYQ Solutions

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