What term describes actions taken to prevent an adversarial action by presenting a credible threat during both peace and war?

The term that describes actions taken to prevent an adversarial action by presenting a credible threat during both peace and war is deterrence. Deterrence involves the use of threats to influence the behavior of potential adversaries and discourage them from taking aggressive actions, based on the belief that the costs of their actions would outweigh any possible gains. This concept is crucial in strategic military thinking, as it helps maintain stability and prevent conflict through the assurance that the consequences of aggression would be severe.

By establishing a credible threat, a nation can deter attacks or provocations from opponents. This can be achieved through various means, such as maintaining a robust military capability, forming alliances, and clearly communicating the potential repercussions of hostile actions. Deterrence works effectively during both peacetime and wartime, as the underlying principle of discouraging adversarial behavior remains constant.

The other concepts, while related to military strategy, function differently. Compellence refers to actions taken to force an adversary to take a specific action, emphasizing change in behavior rather than prevention. Dominance involves an assertion of superiority in military capability or position but does not specifically center on preventing adversarial actions through credible threats. Defense pertains to actions taken to protect against attacks but is more reactive in nature, focusing