[QUOTE=pdw;65764309]Even if you believe democracy is fake, you don’t think it’s desirable?[/quote]

In a Darwinian world, governments must always pursue their national interests, and the only true national interest is self-preservation. Which in practical terms means power, economic growth(money), self-defense, stability, etc.

It doesn't matter what a government wants to be, it must first survive. For a government, the ideal would be pursuing the national interests...

[QUOTE=Hobbesian123;65584506]No. It's about oil money. Wake up.[/QUOTE]

It's not about oil per se, but about the advantages that oil gives. Or more to the point, the economic and geopolitical strength that control over oil provides. Though instead of oil, call it "energy". Energy is the workhorse of the entire modern world. Without energy, we would all be riding horses and living like the Amish.

The only industrial power in the entire world that is truly...

[quote]Originally Posted by erasure...
You don't cease to amaze me by such limited... - no, downright mundane perception of the issue, being otherwise well-educated person.[/quote]

Naa, you just take people's words seriously. I'm a utilitarian. My view is that what exists is what works. And what doesn't work will cease to exist. Which is also why I'm interested in evolution.

Furthermore, I could care less what people claim to believe except to understand why...

[QUOTE=erasure;65187928]I don't believe that it's exactly the case[/quote]

Here, read this.

[url]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westphalian_system[/url]

[QUOTE=erasure;65187928]Putin sees "territorial integrity of Russia" differently now, comparably to 30 years ago, and it became a pressuring matter to him. Because he realized that the borders, the way they were outlined 30 years ago, benefits specifically the "Western" block and not...

[QUOTE=erasure]Sorry I had to think a bit before I could respond to your detailed message. [/QUOTE]

If we agree with the principle that power rules the world, then whatever happens in the world corresponds to power, both domestically and internationally. Nothing can happen unless the power wants it.

[i]"The masses never revolt of their own accord, and they never revolt merely because they are oppressed. Indeed, so long as they are not permitted to have standards...