Millions of Dead or None, It's Your Choice

And Nicholas II petty peace conferences

To keep this little publication sustainable, I’m doing a summer special! It’s better than Napoleon invading Russia—it costs less, ends well, and won’t leave you stranded in the snow.

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Nicholas II knew Russia was behind.

Germany, France, Britain, Austria-Hungary, and others were technologically superior. Russia was behind. And amid the growing webs of European treaties, he called peace conferences in 1899 and 1907 aimed at freezing military technology. He argued the 1899 conference would promote the “maintenance of general peace,”¹

Better to destroy Pandora’s Box than risk someone opening it, right?

European leaders saw the farce for what it was: an attempt to give Russia time to draw level with its European competitors. Europe didn’t slow down. Russia lagged. Germany lit the Russian tinder box with Lenin, and Nicholas got consumed.

Now, I’m not saying Nicholas didn’t have a few great ideas, but he learned the first lesson of geopolitics in 1899 and again in 1907:

Countries will ONLY ever do what’s in their best interest.

How often do you think shunting military technology is in a country’s best interests?

Here’s the thing: it sounds nice. Let’s show the world we mean peace! But here’s what happens in point of fact:

The fear of retaliation disappears. China takes Taiwan. Iran and Israel nuke each other to pieces. Russia nukes Ukraine. And the U.S. looks on with a slack expression, baffled that the gambit didn’t work.

Because the first rule of geopolitics is (say it with me): Countries will ONLY ever do what’s in their best interest.