imo states are the result of our human instinct/need of belonging to a tribe. Everyone wants to belong to a tribe or group and they always belong to the best tribe, the best country, the best bitcoiners, the best whatever. Yet, their tribe isn't the best. It's just the most popular at that time or the most powerful.
Discussion
its more than that tho,
if the Chinese can band together and exploit Russian resources or vice versa, there's a survival advantage.
so that makes a convincing imperative to be a member of the "strongest" group
ie the group with the meanest leader and the biggest stick
its a mistake I think that nice people have begun to make more and more in the 20th century,
enlightened leaders would be great,
but politics is about force projection.
as soon as one state breaks the truce theres a race to the bottom to see who can be the most vicious.
it continues in this fashion until individuals themselves change.