Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Reducing the risks of war between major powers is akin to teaching a crocodile to play hopscotch; it’s theoretical, unlikely, and the queue of volunteers is shockingly short. Nonetheless, this is the Herculean task that the peacemakers have set for themselves, and if history has taught us anything, it’s that when the going gets tough, the tough draft lengthy policy articles.
The Breakdown
- Now, Let’s Talk About Some Realistic Expectations
- Much like expecting a toddler to color within the lines, this article suggests we can mitigate the conflict among alpha nations by adhering to agreements. Let’s all cross our fingers and hope superpowers love red tape as much as they love a strong military presence.
- Much like expecting a toddler to color within the lines, this article suggests we can mitigate the conflict among alpha nations by adhering to agreements. Let’s all cross our fingers and hope superpowers love red tape as much as they love a strong military presence.
- A Game of Chicken, But With Nukes
- In what could easily be mistaken for a satire piece, the op-ed highlights the brinksmanship that’s fashionable among nuclear-powered nations. Remember kids, the point of the game is not to flinch, even when facing mutual annihilation.
- In what could easily be mistaken for a satire piece, the op-ed highlights the brinksmanship that’s fashionable among nuclear-powered nations. Remember kids, the point of the game is not to flinch, even when facing mutual annihilation.
- Dialogue: The Adult Version of ‘Use Your Words’
- Open communication is touted like it’s the newest fad diet that will solve all your problems. Instead of sulking and sending passive-aggressive tweets, the article suggests diplomats actually communicate. Revolutionary!
- Open communication is touted like it’s the newest fad diet that will solve all your problems. Instead of sulking and sending passive-aggressive tweets, the article suggests diplomats actually communicate. Revolutionary!
- Trust, But Verify: AKA Spy a Little Less (Wink Wink)
- Trust is essential, says the sage advice, advocating for a policy akin to telling your dog to guard the ham while you step out. Maybe major powers will be different. Sure, and cats will become the new peace doves.
- Trust is essential, says the sage advice, advocating for a policy akin to telling your dog to guard the ham while you step out. Maybe major powers will be different. Sure, and cats will become the new peace doves.
- Military Restraints: Not as Fun as They Sound
- Imposing limits on military capabilities sounds about as effective as putting a band-aid on a broken leg, but hey, it pretty much worked during the Cold War, right? If by “worked” you mean “plunged the world into a panic for half a century.”
- Imposing limits on military capabilities sounds about as effective as putting a band-aid on a broken leg, but hey, it pretty much worked during the Cold War, right? If by “worked” you mean “plunged the world into a panic for half a century.”
The Counter
- Queue the Idealist Violins
- Because whenever we talk about “reducing risks” without hard power, it sounds so pretty it should come with its own soundtrack. Maybe hope is the new strategy.
- Because whenever we talk about “reducing risks” without hard power, it sounds so pretty it should come with its own soundtrack. Maybe hope is the new strategy.
- Great on Paper, Just like Communism
- Theoretical paradigms for war reduction are superb in print. Implementing them is a tad trickier, akin to herding cats or teaching fish to tap dance.
- Theoretical paradigms for war reduction are superb in print. Implementing them is a tad trickier, akin to herding cats or teaching fish to tap dance.
- Commence the Spy Games
- “Spy a little less,” they say. But isn’t international espionage the world’s worst-kept secret game of Marco Polo?
- “Spy a little less,” they say. But isn’t international espionage the world’s worst-kept secret game of Marco Polo?
- The Misunderstood Warmongers
- Maybe if we just understood why countries flex their military might, sang Kumbaya, and swapped recipes, things would be peachy.
- Maybe if we just understood why countries flex their military might, sang Kumbaya, and swapped recipes, things would be peachy.
- Might as Well Ask for a Unicorn
- Because why not? The chances of that showing up are about as good as the council of superpowers following a friendly suggestion to downsize their military.
- Because why not? The chances of that showing up are about as good as the council of superpowers following a friendly suggestion to downsize their military.
The Hot Take
You want the liberal hot sauce on this doozy? Strap in. The real ticket to reducing the chances of war isn’t just cooperation (although that’s a cute idea), it’s ensuring that everyone’s on the same seesaw. We have to start treating nations like kids who can’t play nice; give them equal turns in the sandbox.
Leadership workshops for dictators? Cultural exchange programs for tyrants? Can we get scholarships for that? What we need is to do is flip the script — make it so darn expensive, in the face of global warming, pandemics, and the growing list of Netflix originals, to even consider war that it makes more sense to just share the toys. It’s not just about avoiding war; it’s about making peace the most appealing and sustainable option.
Sure, countries could stockpile enough nukes to make even Mars a little nervous, but we could also invest in a future where our biggest worry is whether our avocados are organic. Which future sounds more appealing? Which one has better brunch options? That’s what I thought.
