Autocrats start wars for two reasons: they have policy beliefs (sometimes that conquering neighbors will expand the extractable resource base via land grabs or tribute), and because their rent-seeking inefficient economies run down over time, creating a shortage of resources to bribe cronies — exemplified by Saddam Hussein's 1991 move on Kuwait's oil fields.
causalpending
Speaker
Bruce Bueno de MesquitaEvidence Quote
“they become adventuresome in foreign policy in a in the hope of being able to grab additional resources by conquering a neighbor and getting tribute or taking land this was essentially the story of Saddam Hussein in 1991”
Created: 6/15/2026, 9:20:39 AM
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