Alex Levine’s Reviews > The Peloponnesian War > Status Update

He places a heavy emphasis on the failures of what essentially amounted to an Athenian policy of appeasement under Nicias, even as Sparta repeatedly violated the terms of the 421 peace.

In fact, the disentangling of alliance systems and weakening of the two great powers during the first ten years of war made the peace even more unstable. So, the Argives (allied to Sparta at the outset) by 421 were looking to replace Sparta as the main power in the Peloponnese, while Corinth remained unsatisfied and with more rein to attack Athenian allies.

Moreover, the peace solved immediate concerns for Athens/Sparta, but left other aligned states deeply alienated, particularly as both betrayed former allies or states that had revolted against the either’s systems of imperial control

Nor did it establish arbitration as a means of solving competing claims. Threat/force remained a viable means for resolving disputes, making a return to war straightforward once the immediate conditions of the peace were resolved (Athenian suppression of revolt within empire, repatriation of Spartans captured at Sphacteria).

Important point about the Peace of Nicias as a “false peace,” because it in effect could neither restore status quo ante bellum (because of considerable civil war in cities across Greece in the interim), nor “place the international order established in 445 on a secure footing”. Kagan is deeply critical of this peace for essentially settling none of the alliance/great power problems that led to war.

An important theme is the value of strategies of deterrence, but only if backed by sufficient force. The Athenian deterrence strategy against Corinth in defense of Corcyra works only with the supplying of an additional defense force beyond the initial ten ships, whereas Pericles’ deterrence against the Spartans fails owing to lack of its potential danger/damage.

Fascinating, Athenian representatives at a meeting of Spartan allies characterized their empire as essentially gathered in a “fit of absent-mindedness.”