re-escalation

plural re-escalations · alternative reescalation · alternative reëscalation

1. uncountableThe process of escalating again.

   Unlike crisis escalation, crisis termination is a two-directional process in which protagonists cautiously descend the escalation ladder while simultaneously guarding against possible undetected re-escalation by one’s opponent.

   1946, Rand Corporation, The Rand Paper Series, self-published, page 6

   1 more example

   In the opinion of His Majesty’s Government it is most important for political and other reasons that some limit should be fixed now, and it seems to them desirable, while avoiding any excessive increase, to fix a limit at such a level that reescalation is unlikely to be required again in the Capital Ships category during the period of the Treaty.

   1938, United States Department of State, Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, volume 1, United States Government Printing Office, page 909

2. countableAn instance of escalating again.

   Soviet deception may increase the likelihood of undetected non-compliance, although it also risks a re-escalation of the crisis.

   1946, Rand Corporation, The Rand Paper Series, self-published, page 5

   1 more example

   After March 1968 American policy on Vietnam was all a retrograde operation, to use the military euphemism for retreat, punctuated only by Nixon’s temporary reescalations in 1970 and 1972.

   1963, Kwang-chih Chang, The Archaeology of Ancient China, page 170