States ultimately want to know whether other states are determined to use
force to alter the balance of power (revisionist states), or whether they are satisfied enough with it that they have no interest in using force to change it (status quo states).
The problem, however, is that it is almost impossible to
discern another state’s intentions with a high degree of certainty.
Unlike military capabilities, intentions cannot be empirically verified.
are in the minds of decision-makers and they are especially difficult to discern.