how to understand a troubled region

look at a troubled region, imagine how to build train rail connecting every bigger city in the region, crossing different countries, 

when the rail connects cities from different countries that are enemies which are: in conflict, in hot war or in cold war, then you start to understand the region a bit more 

when you think about who will partly finance building rail in different countries, then you start to realise what country usa supports, what country russia supports and so on, then you start to understand usa's strategic ambitions in the region and you start to realise russia's strategic ambitions in the region