The Impact of Thucydides’ Grand Strategy on Contemporary Business Ethics in India

Abstract

This paper has studied Thucydides ideas of power, strategy, human nature, conflict, and ethics. The association amid internal administrative changing aspects and external threats and how they affect countries, states, and businesses were examined, and the idea of ‘Melian Dilemma’ – the struggle to bring together power dynamics with ethical principles - was assessed. The study also looked at the scepticism toward of Thucydides theory due to belief that outcomes are divinely predetermined, as well as authority, selfishness, and possible failure to notice the significance of economic, social, and technological aspects affecting strategies in today’s world. Despite these seeming flaws, the research evaluated the validity and applicability of Thucydides strategy for today’s industries in relation to flexibility, power dynamics and business ethics with reference to the Indian market. Seven Indian firms were assessed for demonstrating a relevance to Thucydides’ axioms. Based on the results of the analysis, the work proved that Thucydides grand strategy and how it deals with the dilemma between hard strategy and ethics is valid for the Indian market.