How defensive strength can reduce fearful escalation

Do most paths in international politics eventually lead to war?

No. A state that feels sufficiently secure can judge threats more calmly, while perceived weakness can encourage fearful escalation.

The argument is that states which feel secure can assess events more calmly than states which feel weak and threatened. Fear can encourage a government to react violently before it has properly assessed a situation. Sufficient strength can therefore contribute to deterrence and make peaceful outcomes easier. This explanation concerns confidence and threat perception, with the limits of the argument taken up in the following exchange.