The Trump administration is obsessed with a 2,500-year-old Greek war

The statue of King Leonidas.
(Image credit: PARIS PAPAIOANNOU/AFP/Getty Images)

Why should Americans be concerned about a nearly 2,500-year-old Greek war? One answer: because the ancient writings of the historian Thucydides — about the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta — are being used to inform relations between America and China by some of President Trump's top advisers, Politico Magazine writes.

These advisers, ranging from chief strategist Stephen Bannon (who once used "Sparta" as a computer password) to National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and Defense Secretary James Mattis, are all students of Thucydides' teachings. They are especially concerned about the so-called "Thucydides Trap," a situation defined by historian Graham Allison as an inevitable war stemming from "the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta."

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.