Deterrence in the National Security of a Middle-Sized Country

Abstract

Abstract : The idea of is rather simple and refers military strategy under which one power uses a threat preclude an attack an adversary power. The word deterrence is derived the Latin de + terrere and literally means to frighten from or to frighten away. Thus, threat and fear are central the original meaning of deterrence. Military and its application in various forms has a long tradition in the art of war. In the early history of humankind, the main method of deterring an enemy was capture the attention of his senses, mostly visual and auditory, and thereby activate the enemy's imagination. To frighten a foe, bright colors on the body and weaponry were used; warriors in their outfits imitated fearsome animals, or generated frightening sounds, such as, for example, during the famous Battle of Vienna (1683) when Polish cavalry, known as winged horsemen, charged the enemy. With time, military inventions and development of new means of fighting increased the efficacy and credibility of deterrence. The use of artillery, balloons, and airplanes the beginning of the 20th century was considered as one of the means of before World War II (Olszewski 1998: 9-13). The end of World War II, and the use of nuclear weapons, started a new era in military deterrence. During the Cold War, nuclear weapons became the central element in the defense of the nuclear powers.