On the other hand defensive alliances like NATO and the like pretty much work. A couple of centuries ago war was all over the place. These days most people never see it unless they deliberately go to a war zone.

The whole Ukraine war thing seems a bit anachronistic like something from the last century. I think it isn't coincidental that Putin spends a lot of time reading about past centuries (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/10/putin-compares...)

But times have moved on.