Modern Day Relevance

Thucydides' Trap Today?

       There are a lot of events going on in today's world, but what is the relevance of the Peloponnesian War to today's world? Pending you, the reader, have paid attention to current events, many experts believe the world is on the brink of another Thucydides' Trap.

       It is no question that the United States of America stands as the premier superpower in today's age, just as Spartan did in its world. With the world's best trained, best equipped, and most experienced fighting force, its influential presence spans the world. However, the nation's power is being threatened more and more by the rise of China on a global scale. China has expanded exponentially over the last two decades as an economic powerhouse with reduced worker costs attracting cooperations around the world, especially from the United States. As of last year (2019), the United States began a Trade War against China.

(United States / China Trade War)

       Not only is China and the United States waging a trade war, but China also expands its territory in the South China Sea. Protected by the United Nations and labeled as international waters, China claims the waters for itself and has been building islands while claiming they are being settled by Chinese civilians. This remains hard to believe by experts as these islands are being heavily fortified with landing strips, barracks, and other military hardware, along with being surround by Chinese naval and air assets. Despite the Chinese presence, United States Navy ships have deliberately patrolled the waters on "routine patrol." Several instances of Chinese ships threatening to fire on United States ships have led to empty actions instead (for now).

(A Man-Made Chinese Island in South China Sea)

       As the United States and China remain hostile with one another (and to note, COVID-19 spreads rapidly like the Athenian Plague), China threatens the United States as a superpower. The lesson in this is not to scare, but instead to teach; to avoid. The lessons of the Peloponnesian War should not be discarded so lightly. Are we today doomed to allow history to repeat itself, or are there actions that can be taken to steer clear of a war that will lead to countless lives loss only for the powers to be conquered anyways by a third entity? As the world holds its breath as the rising superpower and established superpower knock heads, could this be the trap Thucydides warned about?

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Can Thucydides' Trap be avoided?