FROM THE EDITORS.

  • Published In: History Today, 2025, v. 75, n. 9. P. 3 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Griffiths, Rhys; Wiles, Kate 3 of 3

Abstract

The article discusses the concept of the "Thucydides Trap," which suggests that rising powers often provoke conflict with established ones, as illustrated by historical examples analyzed by political scientist Graham Allison. His study of 16 instances revealed that war occurred in 12 cases, including notable conflicts like the Anglo-Dutch and World Wars. The article contrasts the potential conflict between the ruling United States and rising China with the historical relationship between the US and the UK, which avoided war due to shared cultural ties and external threats. It also highlights the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta as a significant historical example of this dynamic, ultimately leading to a peace agreement in 1996. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:History Today. 2025/09, Vol. 75, Issue 9, p3
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0018-2753
  • Accession Number:187287317
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of History Today is the property of History Today Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.