@stephenjudkins In the context of the current, very hot war in Ukraine, that’s an understandable reaction. But much as “tankie”-ish perspectives are understandably (and correctly) infuriating at the moment, I think it is worth thinking about the games great powers have and do play, and how the justifications for individual wars can hide important patterns. 1/

@stephenjudkins Was Iraq ginned up as part of a hegemon’s strategy for ensuring supremacy by chaos in a restive region? I don’t actually think so. (I think in fact the hegemon’s strategy was a mix of unfinished business and genuine belief in a remarkably convenient end of history.) But it’s not a ridiculous question. /fin