To Colpie:
But what's the purpose of a confrontational alliance? As for an open alliance, the idea would be that all nations simply agree that if any one nation attacks another, that all will destroy that government. This would be a quick way to peace. In a confrontational alliance, we're saying that we're more concerned with keeping country or alliance X at bay than with just protecting ourselves from attack. So which is it? Are we more concerned about defense or offense? If defense, then an open alliance woudl make more sense.
But what's the purpose of a confrontational alliance? As for an open alliance, the idea would be that all nations simply agree that if any one nation attacks another, that all will destroy that government. This would be a quick way to peace. In a confrontational alliance, we're saying that we're more concerned with keeping country or alliance X at bay than with just protecting ourselves from attack. So which is it? Are we more concerned about defense or offense? If defense, then an open alliance woudl make more sense.