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THUCYDIDES' HISTORY: A MANUAL OF STATECRAFT

George Kateb

 

Political Science Quarterly, Vol. LXXIX, Dec. 1964, Number 4, pgs., 481 - 503

 
 

Reviewer comment:

 
 

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'.

 
 

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.

 
 

III Separate observations.

 

IV Descriptions of extreme situations

 
 

V. Accounts of typical political predicaments

 

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