brinkmanship

noun

Etymology: From brink (“border, edge”) + -manship (suffix denoting expertise, involvement, or special status in an area).

1. The pursuit of an advantage by appearing to be willing to take a matter to the brink (for example, by risking a dangerous policy) rather than to concede a point.

   “The diplomat accused the other nation’s leader of brinkmanship for refusing to redeploy the troops along their nations’ shared border.”

   “They say that in ancient times the Romans used to take cold showers before deciding on important questions. Perhaps, this should be recommended to some excessively ardent supporters of the policy of brinkmanship.”