Week 2 (Why do States Fight?)

Question 1

What is Thucydides’ explanation for the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War in 431 BCE?

Answer 1

Although there are various reasons for war given during the war, Thucydides argues that the main cause of the Peloponnesian War was ultimately that Sparta was FEARFUL of Athens and decided to fight it before its power grew any further.

Question 2

The Corinthians made 3 moral arguments that justified war

Answer 2

1. Athens was an aggressive state
2. Sparta had a moral duty to all of Hellas to stop Athenian aggression because they are a powerful state with a strong army
3. The longer Sparta waits to attack, the more they undermine their own interests

Question 3

The Athenians made 2 moral arguments against war:

Answer 3

1. The growth of Athenian power and leadership in the region is legitimate because of Athens performance in the war against the Persians
2. Athens is not acting out of will to dominate but rather out of a justified fear

Question 4

The Spartan King also offered 3 arguments against war:

Answer 4

1. Athens is much stronger than Sparta
2. Sparta should start preparing for war with the hope that such preparations will deter and moderate Athenian behavior
3. Sparta should not be persuaded to rush into this decision to wage war but should act with slow, calculated deliberation.

Question 5

Is Thucydides’ explanation for the outbreak of the Peloponnesian War convincing?

Answer 5

• Thucydides does not offer an explanation for why he, himself is not convinced by the arguments of the Corinthians
• he suggests that this cause was kept “formally out of sight” however without direct evidence, how can he be so sure?
• The Spartan leader Sthenelaidas’ argument for war does not emphasize fear as a motive but rather anger at Athenian injustice and a duty to protect Sparta’s allies.

Question 6

What is Taras Kuzio’s argument for why Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022?

Answer 6

the desire to re-establish the Russian empire (IMPERIALISM) by bringing together all Russians currently living outside of Russia’s borders (NATIONALISM).

Putin did not see Ukraine as an independent sovereign state, rather as a “little Russia”.

This argument would suggest that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, with the goal of expanding Russian borders and erasing the Ukrainian identity, is completely immoral.

Question 7

How does Kuzio support his argument for why Russia invaded Ukraine in Feb 2022?

Answer 7

Russian leaders and media journalists openly talk of their goal of the eradication of the Ukrainian nation

(Akopov 2022): argues the invasion is part of Putin’s efforts to restore Ukraine to its rightful place as part of the Russian sphere of influence.

(Medvedev 2022): argued that Ukraine in its current form is like Nazi Germany and should suffer the same fate.

(Roshchina 2022): quoting Dmitry Medvedev saying Ukraine might not exist in two years

(Sergeytsev 2022): arguing that the invasion of Ukraine is a just war against a Nazi state that needs to be destroyed and that Ukrainian national identity is artificial and illegitimate.

Question 8

What is John Mearsheimer’s argument for why Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2002?

Answer 8

• Mearsheimer argues that the Russia-Ukraine war is a result of U.S foreign policy efforts to expand NATO against Russian borders,
• He argues against what he calls the “conventional wisdom” – the claim that Russia, and Putin in particular, launched the war to destroy Ukraine and bring it into a Russian empire.
• this argument suggests that Putin’s fear for Russian national security was the main cause of his invasion of Ukraine, making the war more justified.

Question 9

How does Mearsheimer support his argument why Russia invaded Ukraine?

Answer 9

NATO became a figure of western aggression towards Russia, evidenced through public statements. He refers to a July 12th, 2021 article, a February 22, 2022 speech and a February 24th 2022 speech, which all convey a fear towards NATO expansion and the concern for Russian borders and national security.