
The Cause Of Great Power War Is A Perennial Issue For The Student Of Politics. Some 2,400 Years Ago, In His Monumental History Of The Peloponnesian War, Thucydides Wrote That It Was The Growth Of Athenian Power And The Fear That This Power Inspired In Sparta Which Rendered The Peloponnesian War Somehow Necessary, Inevitable, Or Compulsory. In This New Political Psychological Study Of Thucydides' First Book, S.n. Jaffe Shows How The History's Account Of The Outbreak Of The War Ultimately Points Toward The Opposing Characters Of The Athenian And Spartan Regimes, Disclosing A Thucydidean Preoccupation With The Interplay Between Nature And Convention. Jaffe Explores How The Character Of The Contest Between Athens And Sparta, Or How The Outbreak Of A Particular War, Can Reveal Thucydides' Account Of The Recurring Human Causes Of War And Peace. The Political Thought Of Thucydides Proves Bound Up With His Distinctive Understanding Of The Interrelationship Of Particular Events And More Universal Themes.
This study investigates the core question of why great powers engage in conflict by analyzing Thucydides' account of the origins of the Peloponnesian War. S. N. Jaffe, a scholar of political theory, examines the first book of Thucydides' history to uncover the underlying psychological and political drivers of war. By focusing on the tension between Athenian and Spartan regimes, the author argues that Thucydides viewed the outbreak of war as a manifestation of the interplay between human nature and social convention. The work bridges the gap between specific historical events and universal political themes.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and students of political science frequently note the analytical depth Jaffe brings to the interpretation of Thucydidean thought. Experts highlight this text as a valuable contribution to understanding the intersection of classical history and contemporary international relations theory.
Page Count:
304
Publication Date:
2017-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0191025585
ISBN-13:
9780191025587
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