Ilan Avineri
HIST-315
October 1st, 2017
The Thucydides Trap: An Applied History
In the 21st century, political pundits chronically flood the media with supposedly prescient analyses of an inevitable conflict. Whether it be the expanding industrial Chinese that present a challenge to the established western hegemons, or the supposed droves of Islamists flowing from the “muslim world” - the emphasis is on an inescapable collision. Among these analysts, is former national security advisor and current Breitbart editor Steve Bannon who seemingly subscribes to this worldview. Specifically, the alt-right commentator is falling into a geopolitical quagmire Graham Allison has dubbed “the Thucydides trap,” the fear of a rising power threatening …show more content…
Rather than blindly subscribing to fanciful martial metaphysics - it is important to document the sizable uptick in structural stress between Athens and Sparta that pushed the two nations towards war. Prior to the Persian invasion of Greece in 490, the Lacedaemonians had enjoyed dominance in the Greek Peninsula for nearly a century. Quaking this longstanding comfortability Sparta enjoyed, the outbreak of the Persian Wars resulted in the consolidation of Athenian naval-power with the creation of the Delian League. The sizable growth in Athenian military might, instilled fear in Sparta, who could no longer present a challenge to Athens at sea. Moreover, prior to the outbreak of war, at the convening of the Peloponnesian league, Athenian bellicosity was palpable. The rising power argued in favor of a primordial form of geopolitical Darwinism, stating that “the weaker are [always] held down by the stronger.” Militarily, Athens had continued to seize smaller islands in Greece. Diplomatically, the Athenians ardently argued that the seizure of smaller islands did not present a deviation from geopolitical norms. Thus, it was rising Athenian belligerency, tied
HIST-315
October 1st, 2017
The Thucydides Trap: An Applied History
In the 21st century, political pundits chronically flood the media with supposedly prescient analyses of an inevitable conflict. Whether it be the expanding industrial Chinese that present a challenge to the established western hegemons, or the supposed droves of Islamists flowing from the “muslim world” - the emphasis is on an inescapable collision. Among these analysts, is former national security advisor and current Breitbart editor Steve Bannon who seemingly subscribes to this worldview. Specifically, the alt-right commentator is falling into a geopolitical quagmire Graham Allison has dubbed “the Thucydides trap,” the fear of a rising power threatening …show more content…
Rather than blindly subscribing to fanciful martial metaphysics - it is important to document the sizable uptick in structural stress between Athens and Sparta that pushed the two nations towards war. Prior to the Persian invasion of Greece in 490, the Lacedaemonians had enjoyed dominance in the Greek Peninsula for nearly a century. Quaking this longstanding comfortability Sparta enjoyed, the outbreak of the Persian Wars resulted in the consolidation of Athenian naval-power with the creation of the Delian League. The sizable growth in Athenian military might, instilled fear in Sparta, who could no longer present a challenge to Athens at sea. Moreover, prior to the outbreak of war, at the convening of the Peloponnesian league, Athenian bellicosity was palpable. The rising power argued in favor of a primordial form of geopolitical Darwinism, stating that “the weaker are [always] held down by the stronger.” Militarily, Athens had continued to seize smaller islands in Greece. Diplomatically, the Athenians ardently argued that the seizure of smaller islands did not present a deviation from geopolitical norms. Thus, it was rising Athenian belligerency, tied