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Jack comments on Politics Discussion Thread February 2013 - Less Wrong Discussion

1 Post author: OrphanWilde 06 February 2013 09:33PM

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Comment author: Jack 07 February 2013 01:08:56AM 6 points [-]

I would say sub- 5% given a low prior for rich, well-governed nations fighting all out wars, Japan being relatively demilitarized still (and war being technically illegal), and the US having a defense commitment there.

Comment author: [deleted] 07 February 2013 06:06:29PM 5 points [-]

Japan being relatively demilitarized still

On paper, sure. In practice the JSDF is one of the world's top ten military forces by overall measures.

Comment author: Jack 07 February 2013 06:11:40PM 3 points [-]

Cite?

Comment author: [deleted] 08 February 2013 01:36:07AM *  4 points [-]

Japan ranks #6 in the world for total military expenditures, according to SIPRI 2012.

The JMSDF ranks #4 for tonnage of the world's navies (counting only active, commissioned combat-oriented vessels).

Comment author: Eugine_Nier 07 February 2013 04:43:06AM *  4 points [-]

On the other hand China is facing social unrest and as well as problems due to its gender imbalance, so a war that gives people an enemy besides the government to focus their anger as well as killing of excess males might make sense from its point of view.

Comment author: ThrustVectoring 07 February 2013 04:12:58PM 2 points [-]

Sub-5% is very conservative. It's likely sub-2%. Japan is simply too anti-military, and China owns too many US dollars.

Comment author: ikrase 07 February 2013 03:51:45AM 1 point [-]

Next decade? Extremely low.

Comment author: CellBioGuy 07 February 2013 04:51:00AM 1 point [-]

What about next 3 decades?

Comment author: ikrase 07 February 2013 04:07:09PM 2 points [-]

I am going to guess still pretty low although highly militarized intrigue, cyberwar, etc might happen. Or a false start (in either direction).

I also really wonder just how strong the Peace of Europe is.