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[JenniferK632]

Would someone be able to explain this? Thanks!

[Laura Damone]

Hi!

P: Mutual deterrence is the most effective way to prevent armed conflict.
(A): (When one nation feels that its military is more dominant than another nation's military, it will not characterize the relationship using mutual deterrence.)
C: If one nation sees itself as militarily dominant, the most effective way to prevent armed conflict will not be the one used to characterize the relationship.
C: Therefore, in any relationship between two nations where both sides feel that neither nation is militarily dominant, mutual deterrence will be the policy implemented.

We know from "P" that mutual deterrence is always the most effective way to prevent armed conflict. But "(A)" tells us that a nation won't characterize a relationship that way if they feel that theirs is the more dominant military. Say we're looking at two countries: the US and France. Mutual deterrence is the best way to prevent armed conflict, even though the US wouldn't characterize the relationship that way since the US feels it has a more dominant military. Thus, conclusion 1: If one nation sees itself as militarily dominant, the most effective way to prevent armed conflict (mutual deterrence) will not be the one used to characterize the relationship (because the US won't call it that).

Make sense?

And regarding Conclusion 2, "the policy implemented" is a big red flag. We don't know anything about what policies will actually be implemented. We only know which is the most effective.

Hope this helps!
Laura