China's Favorite American Idea - by Seva Gunitsky - Hegemon

the "Thucydides Trap" shows how bad history can succeed if it serves a purpose

China's Favorite American Idea the "Thucydides Trap" shows how bad history can succeed if it serves a purpose Seva Gunitsky May 18, 2026 174 30 54 Share A few days ago Xi posed a question to Trump inside the Great Hall of the People: Can China and the US overcome the Thucydides Trap? Not since George W. invoked democratic peace theory to justify invading Iraq has an obscure social science concept been put to such productive misuse. Xi deployed a piece of academic jargon to frame the entire bilateral relationship, and the US president walked right into it. I say “walked right into it” because b

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