[Official Reich Comedy Blog]

could use a little more cowbell

[How this war could have been]

Oh I don't judge any particular person in the Allances, frankly I like individual within all alliances, its unfortunately the image of the Alliance as a whole as spearheaded by their leadership. 

[How this war could have been]

Tough to say honestly, if Rose and SK were just on the same side of a conflict and then SK suddenly stabs them in the back, SK and Rose are suddenly in a war, politically, many of SK's allies may not want to involves themselves at all, just in case they are next on the chopping block. At least that would be my thoughts as an alliance leader.

 

Mercifully no one has been foolish enough to make me a leader so this is merely my own humble opinion. 

[Empire or Democracy]

Meritocracy

[How this war could have been]

Well let's assume that the war goes off without a hitch and its ever bit as damaging as we assume wars would be. Once SK throws their lot against Rose for no particular reason, everyone is going to immediately look at them and be "Wtf?" after as you pointed out many likely won't want to touch SK, and then whoever is left might do as is being done now and pile onto SK... we would have the same war, simply with different players.