The Origin, Causes and Termination of the Peloponnesian War and its Drivable Lesions for the Contemporary International System

This paper examines the origin, causes and termination of the Peloponnesian war and its drivable lesions for the contemporary international system. The Peloponnesian war (430BC-404BC) was a geostrategic struggle between the two most powerful Leagues of Powers in Ancient Greece; the Delian League and the Peloponnesian League. The study revealed that the war was furthered by imperialist aspirations, commercial rivalry and vain desire for military glory. The end of the war marked a significant power shift in Ancient Greece balance of power and ushered in a period of regional decline, in which Athens, the most culturally advanced Greek city state was brought into final eclipse. The war crippled Greek economy, military strength, and undermined the most critical and influential period of its history. It slowed Greek political life, weakened her political institutions, led to the failure of the city-state system and the disbandment of Athenian Empire. The paper recommends that leaders in the contemporary international system should learn from the mistakes of Athenian and Spartan leaders and work collaboratively for the peace and stability of the international system; that nations should eschew the use of force in the pursuit of national interests and allow their actions to be moderated by the desire for world peace; that states and non-states actors should guide against inordinate pursuit of unenlightened self-interests, geopolitical rivalry and hegemonic drive for power that can lead to escalation of conflict. The paper recommends strategic communication approach to international conflicts to prevent war that may occur as a result of miscommunication, misjudgment, miscalculations, and misinformation.