But the give and take of trade trains people to resolve conflicts in peace every day. Indeed, Rummel suggests one way to look at international relations between individuals is as interacting in a state of anarchy. Trade is so important to peace, we can see it encouraging peace in capitalist countries that aren't yet democracies. Governments such as Chile and Taiwan before they became democracies, were not as peaceful as democracies, but still far less prone to aggression than autocracies. The reason is that their cultures are based on the principle of free exchange.
Free trade creates a world community of individuals working in harmony.
One added bonus is that, while we may always have politicians, in a world where an exchange culture reigns, they will be selected from within this exchange culture, bringing to their jobs the very inclinations to bargain and compromise that work so well in creating peace in civil society. The war hawks have pursued a policy of mutual assured destruction, arguing that bigger weapons make better deterrents. Others have argued for disarmament. While the causes of war are undoubtedly varied, protectionism clearly invites conflict. To this, free trade is a remedy.