[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23430]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING THOMAS SCHELLING'S NOBEL PRIZE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 20, 2005

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I often talk with great pride about the 
University of Maryland, both as an outstanding academic institution and 
as my alma mater. Today is no different. While this latest achievement 
revolves around the concept of games, it is not Gary Williams or Ralph 
Friedgen who are bringing home the hardware. Instead, it's Thomas 
Schelling, a University of Maryland professor and 50-year expert in the 
concept known as ``game theory,'' who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 
Economic Sciences last week.
  The Fifth Congressional District congratulates Professor Schelling, 
whose contributions to economics will influence generations of policy-
makers, diplomats, and strategic thinkers. Schelling is best known for 
his book, ``The Strategy of Conflict,'' a groundbreaking effort to 
deter the use of nuclear weapons. Schelling used his ``game theory'' to 
explain how the Cold War could effectively be prevented from turning 
into a nuclear holocaust. As Michael Kinsley recently noted in the 
Washington Post, Schelling's theory was born to deal with 
interdependence. ``The other side had to be confident that it could 
survive and retaliate if you went first,'' he said. ``Otherwise, in a 
crisis, it would be sorely tempted to go first.''
  Fortunately, the world averted disaster in the case of the Cold War, 
but many modem day security threats remain. With nuclear terrorism the 
most glaring and preventable homeland security challenge of our time, 
world leaders would be wise to consider Professor Schelling's theory 
wherever possible.
  Professor Schelling has spent the majority of his adult life 
championing the most patriotic of causes: applying behavioral and 
economic sciences for the promotion of peace. The Nobel Academy rightly 
recognized his distinguished career, and the Nation should be proud of 
his accomplishments. As a native of Maryland and an alumnus of the 
place Schelling calls home, I take special pride in saluting his 
success.

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