What allocation strategy involves using threats as a means to distribute resources?

The allocation strategy that involves using threats as a means to distribute resources is the use of force. This approach typically means that resources are distributed based on the ability to impose power or coercion rather than through cooperative means or voluntary agreements.

In scenarios where force is used, the allocation is not determined by mutual consent or negotiation, but rather by the imposition of one party's will over another. This can manifest in various contexts, such as in political or territorial disputes, where one entity uses its power to control resources that may belong to others.

This strategy contrasts sharply with other allocation methods like authority, where decisions are made by a recognized figure or institution; majority rule, which relies on collective agreement from a group; and market price, which is based on supply and demand dynamics in a free market. Each of these methods entails a more consensual or systematic approach to resource distribution, making them fundamentally different from the coercive nature of force.