This certainly applied in Napoleon’s time, when any small provocation could lead to war. Europe’s troubled history witnessed this for several centuries, from the Hundred Years War to the Second World War. All wars started from small disputes, small provocations, petty arguments on succession issues or the conquest of small regions as a sign of cocky power.
Nowadays, we can flatter ourselves with being wiser than in those times and the G8 Summit in Sankt Petersburg taking place these days is a show in this sense. Pin-pricks still exist between the most important economies of the world and it is enough to see Russia threaten Europe with higher prices for natural gas and oil to be convinced. However, these seem only silly playground play between serious students who, once in class, are determined to find the solutions to their math problems. This is what is happening in Sankt Petersburg, where the world leaders are taking a common stand in the Middle East crisis, are discussing the world energy crisis, global economy and education issues.
Finally, a positive approach, even if pin-pricks are bound to still exist (Russia will probably still be denied from access to WTO, by the way).
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