Thucydides Trap

The Thucydides Trap is when two powerful states are in competition with each other and run the risk of going to war. It is named after the Ancient Greek historian Thucydides, who wrote about a long war fought between Athens and Sparta in the 5th century BC. When two powerful countries in a region become rivals, this leads to a situation of distrust, and can make it difficult for the countries to peacefully manage their differences. This tension can often result in an armed conflict.