JOURNAL OF LEADERSHIP, ACCOUNTABILITY AND ETHICS
Transformative Ambition in Peace and War: The Case of Pericles of Athens
Author(s): Mark A. Menaldo
Citation: Mark A. Menaldo, (2012) "Transformative Ambition in Peace and War: The Case of Pericles of Athens," Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics, Vol. 9, Iss. 4, pp. 99 - 112
Article Type: Research paper
Publisher: North American Business Press
Abstract:
This paper revisits the realist interpretation of the Peloponnesian War that was fought by Athens against Sparta. This paper explores how the transformative ambition of ancient Athens’s most prominent leader, Pericles, was directly involved in the precipitation and conduct of the war against Sparta. Specifically, Pericles’ vision of Athens deeply influenced its politics and foreign policy. His diplomatic decisions were instrumental in precipitating the war against Sparta and his military strategy revolutionized the conduct of ancient Greek warfare.