We often hear the expression "brinksmanship." Does...

Question

We often hear the expression “brinksmanship.” Does this mean diplomacy to the brink of war or sanctions?

Answer

Brinksmanship was a term used by Adlai Stevenson in the 1950s in his criticism of the policies of then Secretary of State John Foster Dulles; Stevenson believed Dulles’ methods would lead the United States to the brink of war. The word is still used in this context.