Indeed, poor management of international relations at such critical junctures has often led to major wars. Rising powers tend to demand a greater role in international politics, declining powers tend to be reluctant to adjust, and key policymakers are likely to misunderstand the intentions of other countries’ leaders and overreact to their actions.
实力大变迁往往是关键政治领导人可能做出严重外交政策错误决定的时期。事实上，在这个当口出现拙劣的国际关系处理通常会导致大战。崛起势力总是要求在国际政治中拥有更重要的地位，而衰落势力总是拒绝调整，关键决策者可能误解其他国家领导人的意图，对后者的行为作出过度反应。