Economic lens
Power
2 questions that expose connected mechanisms beneath this part of the world.
All lensesDoes peace require everyone to want peace?
No. Wanting war and choosing war are different things. Rules, defensive capability, information, and credible collective commitments can make aggression costlier and less likely to succeed, so even a hostile actor may prefer restraint or bargaining. But deterrence is conditional: threats that lack credibility may fail, while threatening preparations can make opponents feel less safe and produce escalation instead.
5 min LeverHow do international sanctions work?
Sanctions work by making selected trade, finance, technology or travel illegal for people under the sender's jurisdiction. Their reach grows when banks and firms need access to the sender's currency and markets. Pressure can be large without guaranteeing political compliance.