When a country falls victim to Communism, the neighbouring countries will follow suit. What do you call this idea: Domino theory, conspiracy theory, Red Plague theory, or tell-tell theory?

Jack Flash

I've always understood it to be the Domino Effect, based on the comparison with a line of dominoes standing on their ends. When the first domino topples, the rest follow in sequence. Apr 21 02, 7:33 AM

McGruff

The domino theory was a mid-20th century foreign policy theory, promoted by the government of the United States, that speculated that if one land in a region came under the influence of communism, then the surrounding countries would follow in a domino effect. The domino effect suggests that some change, small in itself, will cause a similar change nearby, which then will cause another similar change, and so on in linear sequence, by analogy to a falling row of dominoes standing on end. The domino theory was used by successive United States administrations during the Cold War to justify American intervention around the world. Referring to communism in Southeast Asia, Eisenhower vocalized the theory: "Finally, you have broader considerations that might follow what you would call the "falling domino" principle. You have a row of dominoes set up, you knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is the certainty that it will go over very quickly. So you could have a beginning of a disintegration that would have the most profound influences." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domino_theory Aug 04 07, 8:59 PM