\"A War like no other\"; by Victor Davis Hanson

[Paralus]

A parallel to the US hegemony that is not often appreciated is how divided the opinion in Sparta was during its height- especially on Thebes. The dual kingship made for a natural "two party" system.

I'm not so certain that Spartan "opinion" was so divided over Thebes - or other Greek states. Spartan opinion certainly lacked any divide when it concerned Greeks of a Peloponnesian nature: these were hers to direct in her "pomp". Thebes was, increasingly, no acquiescing "League" ally. This irked Sparta greatly - more so as Thebes was no small Peloponnesian statelet.

In a new era where Sparta clearly decided to assume the mantle won from Athens, ansty allies such as Thebes were an iiritant. Giving expression to that irritation might well have garnered political support. Anyone who argues that the policy of Agesilaos was neither the expression of that irritation nor popular within Sparta flies in the face of history. Anatlcidas, though he might have disliked the Corinthian helm-in-hand posture to Persia demanded by Agesilaos' belligerent and aggressive policies, well realised the price of primacy. Agesilaos, like most politicians, merely trumpeted it; it was not ever his problem when the state failed him.