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Political Science Quarterly, Vol. LXXIX, Dec. 1964, Number 4, pgs., 481
- 503
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Reviewer comment:
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I Dr. Kateb comments: "It is not very difficult to see why
Thucydides has not been much used by students of politics." His belief is
that such study requires "willingness to be unscrupulous." By this he
means overlooking Thucydides' methods of quoting speechs by important people at
important times. But he insists that students should devote great attention to
this extremely valuable 'manual of statecraft'.
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II He directs the reader's attention to three significant themes.
1 The book contains numerous observations made either by Thucydides himself or
by the speakers he uses.
2. The book contains descriptions of extreme situations that confront leaders -
politicians - which are typical and should be studied.
3. The book contains descriptions of typical difficult situations that confront
political leaders.
Dr. Kateb devotes the following three sections to analysis of these three
themes.
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III Separate observations.
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IV Descriptions of extreme situations
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V. Accounts of typical political predicaments
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