I think it's more likely that WW1 and WW2 collectively persuaded even the most thick-headed of western elites that great power conflicts are bad for everyone, e

I think it's more likely that WW1 and WW2 collectively persuaded even the most thick-headed of western elites that great power conflicts are bad for everyone, even the winners. There's a reason why the french and the british were so reluctant to start WW2 - the first world war was completely devastating to their societies, and it didn't even improve their security, since Germany was able to relatively quickly rebuild and rearm.