Why Read Thucydides In 2020

Thucydides wrote "The History of The Peloponnesian War" in 431 BC. So why should we care thousands of years later. Carsten Schmeidl, a Senior Program Officer in the Transatlantic Defense and Security Program, thinks U.S. strategic thinkers can learn from Thucydides. The U.S. must now consider this modern era of multiple great powers. Globalization has also made the world rather unpredictable. Nations such as China and Russia are looking to rise and become a threat to the U.S. and its allies. For example, China is greatly expanding its Navy. These various powerful nations are looking to gain relative advantages. The Peloponnesian War was no different. Athens was a maritime power and protected its people by securing port access. This allowed them to acquire grain supplies from the Black Sea. 

Great strategists and leaders look to gain a mental advantage and give their enemies heartbreak. Athen's leader, Pericles, had a strategy to convince Sparta it was powerless compared to Athens. They first made Athens impenetrable by securing long walls and retreating behind them. Secondly, Athens launched naval raids to annoy Sparta. They knew Sparta was a powerful land enemy and did not want to engage Sparta on land. 

However, the changing world greatly impacted Athens. Athens suffered a plague and nearly 33% of Athenians died. They also didn't vary their strategies much. While Athens's navy kept them surviving, they relied too much on their naval power.

U.S. strategic thinkers can learn several lessons. Strategies are not perfect as many states have finite resources and budget constraints. Money may not be concerning in the U.S., but how they utilize the budget and resources does matter. Athens's navy gave it a relative. However, this came with hubris. Strategists must think broadly and think about various strategies. Therefore, there is a backup plan if a major strength fails. Lastly, U.S. strategists should look to set the theatre. This involves the pre-crisis environment in which strategic decision occurs. A good example includes alliances. Persia joined and greatly impacted the Peloponnesian war. likewise, the U.S. benefits from favorable alliances and military support.