Brinkmanship - GCSE History Definition

Brinkmanship is a strategic approach used in international relations, particularly during the Cold War, where countries push dangerous situations to the verge of conflict in order to achieve favourable negotiations or outcomes. It involves taking significant risks by showing a willingness to go to war, thereby forcing the enemy to back down or make concessions. This tactic was famously used during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, when the United States and the Soviet Union came close to nuclear confrontation. For GCSE History students, understanding brinkmanship is crucial to understanding the high-stakes diplomacy and power dynamics that characterised much of the Cold War.