Summary:
The book examines the historical pattern of conflict when a rising power threatens to displace a ruling one, referencing the ancient Greek historian Thucydides. It analyzes the potential for the United States and China to avoid military confrontation while navigating this dynamic, drawing lessons from past instances where major powers have either succumbed to or avoided war.
Key points:
1. Thucydides's Trap: The term, coined by Allison, refers to the tension and potential war caused by a rising power threatening an existing one. It's based on Thucydides's account of the Peloponnesian War.
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