Can't quibble with that, since the victorious nations (or ones seen as such) often don't look to the future as much as they should, and hence do provoke the type of response seen leading up to WWII. The same could be said about the fall of the USSR, where the glee of so many about this perhaps disregarded what was likely to be happening in the countries affected. Not sure what one can do about this though, apart from us all having a lot more empathy and generosity.
One of the key factors which led many nations to the First World War was malignant nationalism, but as the war raged on, many people saw just how dangerous, bloody, and deadly nationalism could truly be - and there was a reaction against it. Of course, Germany under the Kaiser was considered the worst offender in that regard, but the same nationalist fever gripped other nations as well.
But because of shifts in global opinion and the balance of power, the allied governments didn't want to be seen as conquerors or imperialists anymore. They wanted to exude an image of decent, responsible, righteous liberals who favor democracy, human rights, and the sovereign rights of other nations - but they still wanted to keep all the wealth and ill-gotten booty from conquest. That's where the contradiction came in.
The problem is that you can't really have it both ways. If a nation wants to be a decent, responsible member within the family of nations, then they should be that. If they want to be bloodthirsty conquerors and imperialists, they can be that, too. But if they want to be both at the same time, then there are going to be problems.
Seems many countries are placed into roles that they didn't explicitly plan.
Well, it's certainly not something that the people have direct control over.
I can't see much change unless there is a general movement for change, and perhaps prompted by children, but even there I don't hold out much hope.
I think there will be movements for change, but not necessarily in the direction that many people want it to go. There was a chance for change, but too many people got suckered in by Reaganite consumerism. Yet another example of people wanting to have their cake and eat it, too - and then wondering later on why things are going bad.
That's why I have very little empathy now for what's going on, since the people should have known better. They should have heeded the warnings and criticisms of what Reagan and his ilk were doing to the country.