Thucydides in IR theory.
Current China-US tensions have been explained in terms of a ‘Thucydides trap’. The ancient Athenian Thucydides wrote about the Peloponnesian war against Sparta. A distinguished academic, Graham Allison, has extrapolated from his text the principle that war between an established power (such as the United States) and an up-and-coming rival (China) is more likely than not.
Military academies will continue teaching Thucydides, as junior officers value his interest in tactics and morale.
With fewer students studying ancient Greek, academics will rely more on others’ translations of Thucydides.
Thucydides’ insistence upon establishing the truth and his study of decision-making in Athens’ direct democracy will retain their relevance.
