In absence of international authority to keep order and protect interests of states, each state must look out for its own interests and this requires getting and keeping power. The nurture view 1. People form civil societies in order to solve common problems and create desired futures that individuals can no longer achieve by themselves. Unipolar, bipolar, multipolar distributions of power distribute benefits differently. Inevitable competition over the distribution of benefits and power insures relations among states will be competitive and often combative, no permanent order or peace possible 2.
States choose wars if benefits exceed costs.
Testing U.S. resolve. If US intervenes it strengths Islamic militant opposition to Western imperialism. Policies to Preserve World Order A. Realist policies 1. Iraq then went to war against a weakened Iran and later Kuwait. Partly because costs would have been high politically and militarily.