securiEy of the olher. the pos!-xar atliances bave been able to increase Eheircollective nilitary strength buE not to solve the problen of insecurity in the international systen, especiauy in tbe nuclear age. StaEea menbers of the warsart Treaty have proposed on various occasions Ehe simultaneous dissolution of their alliance and the North Atlantic Treaty OrganizaEion, and, as a first sEep, thQirnili cary organizations.A/ 40/553 EngI ish Page 14 B. Concept of d€terrence 2L. According to the advocates of Ehis concep!, deterrence is a Eecurity concept shose objective i9 to dissuade a potential adversary from init.iating $ar, by threaEening the use of force in order either to deny an adversary from gaining hiaobjectives by nilitary neans or to punish the adveraary shoulal he seek to do so.In effect it seeks to pereuade an adversary that the ri6ks and coaea of acts of aggreEsion rill exceed any gsins tbat nigbt be obEained from such acts. If u6r isnot avoided. deterrence hag failed. 22. Deterrence hag probably been practiaed since the earlieat atageE of humanexistence. Although the concept of deterrence is not supported by all the najor Porre rE or for that rDatter by varl.ous other countries, it reoalnS an itsportant concePt because, rri Eh the prollferaflon of nuclear neapons and the grotrth in thesize and destruct.ive capacities of arsenalg of convenlional seapons, the pursuit ofnational pol.icles designed to sustain deterrence inevitably bas najor inplicalionsfor other counEriea and for broad international security. 23. In lhe vlew of sooe States, conventional deterrence depends for its effectiveness prinarily on tlre posse6sion by states of nllltary capabilities that are structured for self-defenCe of their natlonal EerriCory, ao aE to deny an adversary the prospect of securing cerritorial, political or econonic Aains by the use of nilitary force. In tbeir vies nuclear deterrence, ln contrasE, relieEnainly on the posseasion of offengive nuclear caDabllities that sould be used to
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the concept of deterrence in the context of international relations and security, with references to nuclear weapons and military alliances. It does not seem to be related to economic development, natural resources, or any of the other categories that are typically associated with tangible assets or practical applications.

**Category**
International relations, Science and technology