I’ve been reading through Bertrand Russell recently, and found one particularly resonant thought in his discussion on creed.
Prosperity is generally admitted in the West to be the best preventive of Communist fanaticism, but no one seems to draw the conclusion that it would be a good thing if Russia were prosperous. Trade across the Iron Curtain ought to be encouraged. Everything possible should be done to turn the attention of Russians to the internal development of their own country. [New hopes for a changing world. Pg 124]
It seems that there are many instances in the world today where the same advice can be applied. The use of economic sanctions seems to reliably result in more and continued conflict.