Many historians will tell you that WWI occurred after a series of seemingly rational decisions by most of the powers involved, but lead to an irrational war and wholesale bloodshed. Of course, famously, the casus belli was the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, but the momentum for war in Europe had slowly been inching closer and closer for a number of years, until they reached a critical mass.

Recently, we see that the United States has authorized the military of Ukraine to use its weapons to strike targets inside of Russia. France is also pushing for the deployment of NATO troops inside of Ukraine. Will there be a point where Russia says enough is enough and decide to take the fight to NATO directly?

In the greater world, we see mounting tensions between Iran and the US. China and the US. North Korea and South Korea. The Philippines and China. Venezuela and Guyana. All being backed by other players with vested interests to see a conflict turn out in their favor and upset the balance of power in their respective regions.

(Russia has returned to the Caribbean to conduct drills with the militaries of Cuba and Venezuela. Image credit: World Politics Review.)

Furthermore, the regions of the former USSR and China are becoming more desperate with their populations in a demographic tailspin. China is no longer the largest country on earth by population and Russia’s demographics appear terrible by any metric. Add to that the fact that these nations inherently feel insecure in their own neighborhoods and know that they must wage war soon or they may no longer have the ability to do so. They are essentially painted into a corner and will do anything to ensure their survival.

Read the rest of the article BELOW: