Analogy of Alliances: Russia-Ukraine Conflict.

Byline: Ameer Hamza

The Russian invasion of Ukraine results from a deeply rooted history of mistrust between NATO and Russia. The threats to Russia from NATO's eastward expansion are more legitimate than NATO's premise of going eastward, where Ukraine only acts as a wrestling ring between the political heavyweights. Here, Ukraine is left with no choice but to demand security guarantees from NATO. The current position of Ukraine is no more different than Athens's siege of Melos during the Peloponnesian Wars.

The Peloponnesian Wars (431 to 405 B.C.) between Athens and Sparta chalked out the blueprints of alliance politics and set the benchmark for states to pursue their national interests through alliances. The character of geopolitics and warfare has radically transformed over the centuries, but the way states behave in shaping the conflict remains a static milestone on a sturdy road since then. Athens laid down the siege of natural Spartan ally Melos, an island tribe in the Aegean Sea because Melians had ancestral ties with Sparta.

The Athenian commanders laid down the siege and negotiated the Melian surrender on the premise that 'the standard of justice depends on the equality of power to compel' followed by the practical fact that 'the strong do what they have the power to do and the weak accept what they have to accept.' Interestingly, the Melian asserted the significance of 'such a thing as fair play and just dealing' in state relations and asked for a choice between neutrality, friendship, and allies of neither side.

Meanwhile, Melians spoke highly of their ancestral ties with Sparta 'who are bound, if for no other reason, then for honor's sake' to appear strong in the bargain. The Athenian commander interrupted and referred to help from Sparta, that too, out of honor, saying, 'we must congratulate you on your simplicity but do not envy you your folly.' Spartans are remarkably good at things that directly concern them but are 'most conspicuous' for taking proper steps as you expect and suggested Melians to come out of the emotional quest for safety.

This conversation is a stark comparison between the prevalent Ukraine crisis given Melian dialogue considering the Ukrainian urge to seek help from NATO. It is appropriate to identify the identical actors in both conflicts by putting Ukraine in Melian's shoes, Russia in place of Athens, whereby the U.S.-led alliance plays Sparta. To draw a better understanding of the situation. A brief...