The Thucydidean Turn: (Re)Interpreting Thucydides’ Political Thought Before, During and After the Great War

Description

The emergence of Thucydides as an influential political thinker in the first half of the twentieth century has been astonishingly neglected by modern scholars. This volume examines how, why, and when the Athenian historical came to occupy such a prominent position in political discourse in the US and Europe today. It argues that in the years before, during, and after the Great War Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War was mined for the insights that it could offer into contemporary politics, and that it wasalso used as part of the justification for the academic and cultural relevance of Classics at this time of great political upheaval. Academic classicists and classically trained commentators were instrumental in this ‘turn’ in academic focus onto Thucydides’ contemporary relevance. Among the former were several prominent figures, such as Francis Cornford, Gilbert Murray, and Enoch Powell, who attempted to find in Thucydides a dark depiction of human nature and the passions that drove politics to justify his contemporary relevance. The latter included International Relations scholars and journalists such as Alfred Zimmern, Albert Toynbee, and George Abbott, who ‘turned’ to Thucydides in order to better understand contemporary global and European politics. A final chapter demonstrates how this British ‘turn’ to Thucydides was received and reinterpreted in America on the eve of the Second World War. Cover page Halftitle page Series page Title page Copyright page Dedication Contents Preface Acknowledgements 1 Introduction: Defining the Thucydidean Turn A short history of labelling Thucydides The proliferation of labels Thucydides today The value of the Thucydidean turn today: Psychology, realism and time The structure of this book 2 Thucydides: Between Science and Tragedy Thucydides from rational to tragic From Historicus to Mythistoricus The politics and ethics of Mythistoria Conclusion: Reception and influence 3 Thucydides, Realism and Political Psychology Before the Great War Thucydides the imperialist Greek political thought and modernity Thucydides and political psychology Thucydides: Man and scholar Conclusion: A new Thucydidean paradigm? 4 Thucydides, Realism and the Great War Abbott, Thucydides and the Great War Thucydides and historical realism Thucydides and political realism Self-interest in Thucydides Fear in international relations Conclusion 5 Thucydides, Historical Change and Contemporaneity Thucydides and the cycle of civilizations Toynbee on Cornford and the ‘impersonal forces’ of history The contemporaneity of Thucydides Conclusion: A Thucydidean turn? 6 Learning to Tolerate Thucydides The moral and political principles of Thucydides Thucydides the Realpolitiker The speeches as political thought Political psychology and historical change Thucydides the imperialist Conclusion: The morality of the city and man 7 Epilogue: American Thucydides(s) Wars ancient and modern: Thucydides in America Thucydidean turn(s) The value of the (British) Thucydidean turn Notes Bibliography Index