Domino Theory (Noun)
Meaning
The political theory that if one nation comes under communist control then neighboring nations will also come under communist control.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The domino theory was used by the United States government to justify its involvement in the Vietnam War.
- This concept of a chain reaction was a cornerstone of the domino theory that influenced American foreign policy during the Cold War.
- Critics argue that the domino theory was oversimplified and did not take into account the unique cultural and historical contexts of individual nations.
- Proponents of the domino theory believed that if one country in Southeast Asia fell to communism, the surrounding countries would also fall.
- The domino theory played a significant role in shaping the United States' policy of containment towards communist expansion during the 1950s and 1960s.