"Parity" ia sonetines deflned a6 a situation ehen neither side possegses Ehe caPacity for a 'disarnlngn nuclear nlssi.le striket if either side became Ehe victimof nuclear aggression it. would preserve sufficient rDeans to aleal a retaliaCing blowto the aggreasor. I! can also, however, refer to guantitative and qualitaEive aapecta of t.be nuclear arsenals of the teo sides. 27. The concept of nuclear deterrence is subject to great controversy. In thefollorlng Paragraphs an attempt i.s nade to suutarize ttre dlffering viens on this cohcePt.. 28. sone states that are proponencs of nuclear deterrence consLder that possessionof a capabilily to retaliabe elth nuctear seapona has been and is likely to renaina virtual guarantee preventing the outbreak of any najor conflict - either conventionaL or nuclear - arbng Che nuclear-reapon States. They argue that EheproaPect of nutual devaEtation that eacb eould suffer fron nuclear conflict givesaLl concerned a fundamental interest in the avoidance of war. They noEe in this regard the absence of arned conflict in Burope or beleeen the Uni Eed StaEes and lhesoviet union for 40 yeara as prina tacie evidence of the effectiveness of nucleardeterrence as a meana of preserving pea-e. Declsions Eo acquire nuclear weapon.iare justified uilh shat they perceive as requirementE to deEer war. It is centrallo the concept of deterrence that force eould be used only in response to an atlack bry an adversary. Furthernore, the proponenta argue thaE nuclear deEerrence servesnot onry to deter rrar but alao to conpel boEh aides to aeek to avoid situaEions in which their vltal intereste nay becoflE directly opposed. 29. l,!,any opponent.s of the concept of deterrence reJect the concept oue of hand. They challenge its baslc assuopEions. In their vi€r, the docErine of deEerrence is . by nat.ure aggreesive and relies on force and provldes a basia for an unrestricEed
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing a complex concept related to international relations, security, and diplomacy, specifically the concept of nuclear deterrence and its implications. The language used is formal and technical, suggesting a focus on academic or policy-oriented discourse.

**Category**
International trade, Science and technology