Once upon a time back in 2014, I was visiting New York City and took a taxi ride to go watch a football game.

That same day, a Western coalition of states was threatening to invade Syria following the news of the use of chemical attacks by the regime.

The Greek driver was discussing the situation with me. “It’s all about the power”, he claimed.

What kind of insight could this wise descendant of the great military philosopher Thucydides hold about human nature and conflict? How could humans, the most sophisticated and civilized species on earth, simultaneously hold the ability to participate in the most brutal forms of violence on the planet? Continue reading Why politics always seems so power-centric