Geography
How Economic Interdependence Shapes the Likelihood of Militarized Disputes
Quick fact
Despite centuries of trade, major wars have often occurred between highly interdependent nations—like World War I, where Germany and Britain were each other's largest trading partners. This challenges the simple idea that trade always prevents war.
Why this is interesting
We often assume that when nations trade with each other, they are less likely to go to war. But is that always true? History shows that economic ties can be both a peacemaker and a trigger for conflict.