i always say one needs to separate domestic from international issues.

it's true dictatorships usually happened in "low" countries, but it's also true most those nations are of sheep culture, mainly focus on domestic issues, elites mostly care about control own citizens, not interested in outside. china is the best example, in its long history rules only care about their regimes, if facing outside wolves, appeasement is usually the solution.

nowadys the same, xi is only interested in lifelong rule, dont mention south sea, diaoyu or border with india, even tw he is unlikely to do much, unless forced to do, but its for survival not expansion.

on the other hand, advanced nations are mainly democratic , but they have or used to have strong wolf culture, europe have tamed a bit, mainly due to great sufferings from 2 world wars. but america is still the biggest wolf in the world, create great dangers to the world.