[jvanderbot]

I'd argue that inter-reliance is what brings a framework for peace and mutual respect, at all levels from family up to global politics.

Less personally, in Accidental Superpower, the case is made that the west's insistence on free and safe trade over international waters has helped to broker a long stretch of mostly peaceful time - precisely because it creates these interrelations that become important.

[olivermuty]

Europe has been war torn for thousands of years, then post ww2 we got a long lasting peace. Turns out a side effect of the union is that you are less likely to want to shoot someone who is buying your goods!

[fleischhauf]

that was the German strategy towards Russia "Wandel durch Handel". Assuming that trade is mutual beneficial it makes an armed conflict less likely because both sides have so much to lose. With Russia it did not work unfortunately. It's debatable if it works with china.