Precommitment

Precommitment

Precommitment is a strategy first discussed by Thomas Schelling that a party to a conflict can strengthen its position by cutting off some of its options to make its threats more credible (e.g., an army that burns its bridge behind it making retreat impossible). A famous example of this tactic is when Hernán Cortés had his men scuttle the ships in order to eliminate any means of desertion.

This is important in deterrence theory because a threat must be "credible" to have deterrent power. Strategies such as burning bridges and tripwire forces will eliminate possibilities thus increasing the chance of military conflict. The ideal would be to force your opponent into a clear last chance to avoid war.

External links

* [http://www.allbusiness.com/legal/international-law/931605-1.html Law review article on precommitment]

References

cite book
last = Schelling
first = Thomas C.
title = Arms and Influence
publisher = Yale University Press
year = 1966
location = New Haven, CN


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