> I think what changed is largely trade. Somewhat famously, this belief was widespread before WWI - who would want to fight a war when we're all profiting so m

> I think what changed is largely trade. Somewhat famously, this belief was widespread before WWI - who would want to fight a war when we're all profiting so much from trade. The two biggest wars in history were fought in the next 35 years. The current US government likes to disregard every rule of international relations (and fire or fire all the professional diplomats). Those rules exist because, while they are frustrating in the short term, they prevent wars and promote progress in the medium-to-long term. Politics and international relations are not under immediate control of political leaders - many didn't want war in Europe, but they had started the mechanism and couldn't stop it. The idea of those rules is to never get in that position again.