If a rising China challenges the US in a traditional power struggle, the Thucydides Trap may play out through economic and political manoeuvring, espionage and proxy wars.
In most cases, historical analogies have proven more likely to obscure and confuse than to illuminate and guide assessments of US-China relations.
Ilias Kouskouvelis’ latest book provides a meticulous content analysis of Thucydides’ work, which focuses on choice and decision-making in relation to war and peace.
Jaffe’s excellent and accessible book deals with the state of the art literature on realism and constructivism and challenges realist interpretations of Thucydides.
War is avoidable. The real ‘Thucydides Trap’ is not that of competition and fear. The answer lies in Thucydides’ multi-causal thinking.
China’s rise may be bringing an end to the Gramscian notion of western hegemony and thereby creating a new kind of balance of power.
“The Thucydides Trap” may prove to be moot. There is nothing inevitable about China’s rise but if it continues to rise, the dangers do not lie with “THE” Thucydides Trap.
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