Hegemony or balance of power? What the wars of ancient China teach us
The News
The article opens by highlighting historian A.J.P. Taylor's powerful introduction to 'The Struggle for Mastery in Europe', which compares the behavior of Great Powers to Hobbes' state of nature. Taylor argues that unlike individuals, sovereign states have always lived in a condition of inherent violence. The piece's title suggests it will draw parallels with ancient Chinese warfare to explore themes of hegemony and balance of power.
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The Analysis
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References historian A.J.P. Taylor and his book on European great powers
Taylor quotes Hobbes: 'In the state of nature which Hobbes imagined, violence was the only law, and life was “nasty brutish and short”'.
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Key findings
A.J.P. Taylor wrote one of the most powerful openings of any book in 'The Struggle for Mastery in Europe, 1848-1918'.
Opinion- References historian A.J.P. Taylor and his book on European great powers
- Compares ancient Chinese wars to modern balance-of-power theory
Trust Breakdown
Plain English
Loaded language removedThe historian A.J.P. Taylor wrote one of the most notable openings of any book. “In the state of nature which Hobbes imagined, violence was the only law, and life was ‘nasty brutish and short’,” he wrote in The Struggle for Mastery in Europe, 1848-1918. “Though individuals never lived in this state of nature, the Great Powers of Europe have always done so.
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Claims
A.J.P. Taylor wrote one of the most powerful openings of any book in 'The Struggle for Mastery in Europe, 1848-1918'.
OpinionTaylor quotes Hobbes: 'In the state of nature which Hobbes imagined, violence was the only law, and life was “nasty brutish and short”'.
OpinionTaylor claims that Great Powers of Europe have always lived in a Hobbesian state of nature.
OpinionTaylor states that sovereign states have distinguished European civilization since the end of the fifteenth century.
South China Morning Post