Foreign policy wonks in the United States can burnish their credentials and advance their career prospects by consistently pointing out the flaws in U.S. foreign policy in op-eds, journal articles, and books. The same behavior in China would land one in jail. Leaders in autocratic states, therefore, may make less sound judgments on issues of war and peace because they need not worry about losing power at the ballot box and because they are less likely to have access to the best information about their chances of prevailing in armed conflict.
