The Domino Theory

The Domino Theory was a Cold War idea suggesting that if one country in a region fell to communism, neighboring countries would likely follow, like dominoes falling in a line. It was used to justify U.S. intervention in foreign conflicts to prevent the spread of communism, especially during the 1950s and 1960s. The theory assumes that political changes in one country can trigger similar shifts in nearby nations, emphasizing the importance of containing specific ideologies to maintain regional stability. While influential at the time, it has since been debated and critiqued for oversimplifying complex international dynamics.