CIAO DATE: 11/2011
September 2011
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
When Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River in 49 B.C., he broke an ancient law forbidding any general to enter Italy with an army-thus making war with Rome inevitable. Ever since, "crossing the Rubicon" has come to symbolize a point of no return, when the time for deliberation is over and action is at hand. When decisionmakers cross the Rubicon, or stop debating which of several options to pursue and start implementing a chosen policy, the psychological effects can shape the political world in powerful ways-including the outbreak of war.
Resource link: Crossing the Rubicon: The Perils of Committing to a Decision [PDF] - 422K