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I find John Mearsheimer’s framework of offensive realism helpful to understand global power dynamics. It basically says great powers, driven by the anarchic nature of the international system, are inherently aggressive in their pursuit of security and regional hegemony.

If you want to understand why Germans are so obedient look no further than the children’s book Der Struwwelpeter. My favorite story is of the boy that does not listen to his mom and reluctantly sucks his thumbs, only to have them get cut off by the tailor.