"Peace through strength" is aphrase and theory that a sufficiently strongmilitary can preservepeace. The concept has long been associated withrealpolitik anddeterrence theory.[1][2] The phrase probably originates withNeville Chamberlain who ran a 'Peace Through Strength' public relations campaign from 1936-1939 to avoid World War II; the phrase then gained currency during the Cold War, eventually becoming a core policy tenet of the United States Republican Party since 1980. The idea has critics, withAndrew Bacevich stating,"'Peace through strength' easily enough becomes 'peace through war.'"
While the phrase is modern in origin,Roman EmperorHadrian (AD 76–138) applied the same principles.[3] His policy was described in the 4th century ADHistoria Augusta as "more desirous of peace than of war, he trained the army as if war were imminent."[3]Hadrian's Wall was a symbol and manifestation of this policy.[4] For these reasons modern writers have associated theconcept of peace through strength with Hadrian, though he never used that exact phrase.[3][5][6] In the 4th century AD, the Latin phraseIgitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum ("Therefore, whoever desires peace, let him prepare for war") was written byVegetius in hisDe Re Militari; it is sometimes misquoted asSi vis pacem, para bellum ("If you want peace, prepare for war").[2]
The firstUS president,George Washington, enunciated a policy of keeping the peace through military preparedness, in his fifth annual message to Congress, the1793 State of the Union Address. He said "if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known that we are at all times ready for war."[7][8]
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"Peace through strength" was first used in the context offoreign policy in the United Kingdom in 1936, as a public relations campaign to promote the idea of mutual defense between Britain's colonies against theAxis powers – initially under the slogan "Peace through strength and unity in our empire."[10][11][12][13] The campaign was launched by supporters of soon to be Prime MinisterNeville Chamberlain on the birthday of his father,Joseph Chamberlain.[10] Chamberlain expanded the policy underpinning the slogan to include recent allies Poland, Romania, and Greece.[14] In February 1939, justifying a massive rearmament program, Chamberlain said British policy was "a policy of peace through strength".[9]Chamberlain's foreign policies, as some historians argue, ultimately failed to prevent World War II.[15][16] Nearly ninety years later, in 2025, UK prime ministerKeir Starmer said the country is moving to "warfighting readiness" in order to show potential adversaries that the country is "ready to deliver peace through strength."[17][18]
By late 1939, with the outbreak of WWII, some in the United States adopted the British slogan 'Peace through Strength' - Britain was no longer at peace, but the United States was, and peace through strength was a rallying cry for some isolationists who wanted to keep the US out of WWII.[19][20]
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Following the war, widespread usage in the USA did not occur until after 1952, with the rise of Cold War tensions and the publication that year ofPeace Through Strength, a biography ofBernard Baruch, aWorld War II adviser to US PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt.[5][22] Up until the early 1960s, it was used by military leaders, academics and both Republicans and Democrats.Pentagon strategist,Fritz G. A. Kraemer (1908-2003) was a prominent advocate of the "peace through strength" doctrine. For decades, he promoted this approach, arguing that a strong and credible military posture was essential to deter aggression and maintain peace.[23]
DuringBarry Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign, theRepublican Party spent about $5 million on TV ads promoting Goldwater's foreign policy position of "Peace through Strength," making the phrase more broadly known to the public and associated with the Republican Party platform.[24] PresidentGerald Ford alluded to the concept in his1977 State of the Union Address.[25] In 1980,Ronald Reagan, who had campaigned for Goldwater in 1964, used the phrase during his election challenge againstJimmy Carter by accusing the incumbent of weak, vacillating leadership that invited enemies to attack the United States and its allies.[26][27] Reagan later considered it one of the mainstays of his foreign policy as president.[28][29] "Peace Through Strength" has continued to appear in every Republican Party platform since 1980.[30] "Peace Through Strength" is the official motto of theNimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier,USSRonald Reagan (CVN-76).[31] PresidentDonald J. Trump was a significant proponent of Peace Through Strength policy during both terms.[21]
In March 2025, French president Macron said, "This is the moment when our strategy of peace through strength comes into play," referring to an arms build-up in Europe, sanctions, and possible peace-keeping troops in Ukraine.[32] He later said, "the approach of peace through strength [in Ukraine] is the one we're continuing to take."[33]
InTaiwan, "peace through strength" is a slogan ofTaiwanese nationalism, meaning to emphasize Taiwan's sovereignty, strengthen its military power, and work with theUnited States andJapan to guard against possible aggression by thePeople's Republic of China.Lai Ching-te, the eighth president of the Republic of China (Taiwan), emphasized "peace through strength" even before he became president.[34] On 19 June 2024, president Lai reiterated that "peace must rely on strength, which is to say avoiding war by preparing for war to achieve peace".[35]
Sybil Morrison said, "The utter futility of the 'peace through strength' theory .. by menacing the other side with dire consequences if they do not fall in with the proposals of the opposing side, is, ultimately, not peace, but war."[36] She notes that if the rhetoric is defense plus defeating the enemy, this is war not peace, "victory and peace are not synonymous".[37] Her counter-theory was published asSecurity Through Disarmament (1954).[38]
Andrew Bacevich said "belief in the efficacy of military power almost inevitably breeds the temptation to put that power to work. 'Peace through strength' easily enough becomes 'peace through war.'"[29][39]
The mock inversion "strength through peace" has been used on occasion to draw criticism to the militaristic system of diplomacy advocated by "peace through strength".[40] Ohio RepresentativeDennis Kucinich adopted the slogan "Strength Through Peace" during his 2008 presidential run as part of his platform as a peace candidate against theIraq War.[41]
During Reagan's presidency, the non-profitAmerican Security Council Foundation (ASCF) and its for-profit direct-mail provider, Communications Corporation of America, sought to influence United States foreign policy by promoting the idea, but after the Soviet collapse of 1991, ASCF fell into obscurity, and other organizations continued to promote the slogan.[42]The Heritage Foundation and theCenter for Security Policy (CSP) have also used the term in print.[43] The ASCF registered a trademark for the phrase in April 2011.[44] In September 2012, ASCF filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against CSP andFrank Gaffney,[45] prompting theWashington City Paper to ridicule ASCF's Director of Operations, Gary James, for editing the online encyclopediaWikipedia article titled 'Peace through strength' so that it was "drenched in ... ASCF references".[46] Following a counterclaim by the CSP alleging that the trademark application had been fraudulent, in August 2013 the ACSF announced that it had settled the lawsuit with the CSP and would cancel its trademark claim.[47]
Seeking peace through strength, emperor Hadrian (117–139) went to Numidia in summer 128 to review the fighting skills of Rome's African army. See also Footnote #1 which quotes Historia Augusta:Pacisque magis quam belli cupidus militem, quasi bellum immineret, exercuit ("more desirous of peace than of war, he trained the army as if war were imminent.")
Designed as a symbol of Hadrian's contemporary-sounding policy of "peace through strength", the wall marked the northern frontier of the Roman empire
Hadrian sought "peace through strength or, failing that, peace through threat"
In such conditions it seems to me that only the reckless, the irresponsible or the ignorant can desire that the Government of the day should follow any other policy than the one we have laid down for ourselves, a policy of peace through strength … against any who might be rash enough to attack.Alt URL
[The campaign] is hoped to secure a revival in Imperial interest, and the cooperation is being invited of members of all parties who accept the main principals of the campaign, which is described as 'Peace through strength and unity in our Empire – the last great bulwark of freedom.'
The time has passed when it might have been possible to secure peace though weakness, and it has been forcibly brought home that the only possible policy that can now be followed is one of peace through strength. So long as its [Axis powers] activities are confined to matters which do not vitally affect British interests all that is necessary is to watch it with a wary eye and preparedness for all developments. That, Mr. Chamberlain assured the House of Commons, he is doing, and though his leadership may not be as inspired as the Opposition would like it to be, it shows every sign of being a cautious leadership and one which may steer the ship of state through the very troubled waters it is encountering.
This accusation has been brought, with flagrant injustice, against Mr. CHAMBERLAIN himself. He is determined that it shall not be brought against his country. Hence the policy of seeking not only peace for ourselves but the promotion of the peace of the world ... demands to be accompanied by the determination, to make our country so strong that it must be treated with respect.
Peace-minded Britains who do not want the militarism at home that is being engendered by the ridiculously phrased 'peace front', and who are still opposed to appeasement which fosters Fascism, point out that the trouble with the Chamberlain formula of carrying water on both shoulders, and seeking 'peace through strength' is that it leaves no truly pacific alternative. Either it must lead to war, or a settlement which makes permanent all the worst features of Munich.
As the way to keep the United States free from war, theAmerican Federation of Labor has adopted as its policy the view, which constantly has been expressed by the Services [US Army and Navy]. It is that of peace through strength. At its Fifty-Ninth annual convention held at Cincinnati this week, the Federation adopted unanimously a program calling for strict neutrality