Several years ago, Harvard political scientist Graham Allison coined the term “Thucydides’ trap”. It was based on the ancient historian’s observation that the real cause of the Peloponnesian War “was the rise of Athens and the fear that this instilled in Sparta”.

Allison saw the pattern of tensions – and frequent wars – between rising and ruling powers repeating itself throughout history, most recently, he believes, with the challenge that a rising China poses to American hegemony.