Personally I have felt for a considerable time that we would end up in a major conflict just prior to any next crash.

My reasoning is that if they allow (or can not prevent) a crash then they (TPTB) will be on the hook to their own populations.

In that situation their heads are literally on the block from their own populations as we have seen throughout history, at least in most major conflicts the elite on both sides do not generally target each other, while in civil situations the elite are the target.

So I believe their best bet is to allow/create a situation that projects the building anger/hatred and resentment onto someone else, someone external. (we have a few of those lined up already)

Not to mention that a large enough external conflict also gives them complete control of their populations/economy.

So that is my expectation of what will happen, we'll get up to the point of another crash, no more can kicking and somehow we will be dragged in to a large enough conflict that allows the elite to take full control to protect not just themselves but their assets too.