Restoring Thucydides: Testing Familiar Lessons and Deriving New Ones Contributor(s): Novo, Andrew R. (Author), Parker, Jay M. (Author) |
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ISBN: 1621965376 ISBN-13: 9781621965374 Publisher: Cambria Press OUR PRICE: $37.99 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: March 2020 |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - Political Science | International Relations - General - Political Science | Public Policy - Military Policy - Philosophy | Political |
Physical Information: 0.5" H x 6" W x 9" (0.72 lbs) 218 pages |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: *This book is in the Rapid Communications in Conflict and Security (RCCS) Series (General Editor: Dr. Geoffrey R.H. Burn)
While many studies have attempted to derive lessons from Thucydides or apply lessons to international politics today, few works have tested the validity of those lessons or unpacked the deeper context of Thucydides' work and his time. Like many great books, Thucydides is often read in the search for predetermined lessons derived from preselected excerpts. These lessons come to us as little more than bromides, as immutable as they are oversimplified. Both academics and policymakers use phrases like "Thucydides' Trap" without accurately referring back to the text and its context. The clich s generated by current approaches do not help us understand the particular causes, conduct, and conclusion of the conflict between Athens and Sparta any more than they provide insights into the challenges of our own time. This book examines the use and misuse of historic evidence. It addresses the persistence of historic fact that has been surpassed by legend as well as the absence of consistent, diligent interdisciplinary scholarship. The authors Andrew R. Novo and Jay M. Parker demonstrate how rigor cannot be credible without some degree of richness. Standard conclusions are challenged based on the evidence within his work and the broader historical record. New lessons with modern relevance are drawn from a richer, fuller understanding of Thucydides. |