THE THEORY OF DETERRECE Zhang Shuguang（25） The United States became the predomiant power after World War II. She was at the forefront of the cold war between the East and the West; and her nuclear weapons and nuclear technology advanced with tremendous strides. These factors became the domestic social conditions and international background for the appearance and development of the theory of deterrence in America. In general the theory of deterrence is still “a young discipline”.