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.