Melian Dialogues: Might Disposes of the Right

 

The Melian Dialogues: Might Disposes of the Right

Some 2,500 years ago war raged in Greece between the powerful states of Athens and Sparta. The many cities and islands of the mainland and the Aegean either took sides or remained neutral.

One such neutral island was Melos, south east of Athens, and very near to a string of its island allies, or subjects- the Delian League. The Athenians decided that it would be good strategic policy to tidy up this anomaly of a neutral among the aligned. Therefore they dispatched a military expedition with the remit: either bring Melos into our orbit, or destroy it.

The Athenian leaders offered negotiations, although it soon became clear that “negotiations” meant ‘agree to our terms, or else..’.

What should the Melian representatives do in this stark situation? If they hoped that the Athenians would recognise an appeal to justice - what right did Athens have to bully or destroy Melos?- they were swiftly disabused. The Athenians retorted rules of conduct were pragmatic for states equal in power, but, when it came to dealings between unequals, The strong do what they will, and the weak suffer what they must. (This has become a cliche, almost as notorious as the more pithy version: “might is right”, since the prime minister of Canada quoted it at Davos in 2026, with reference to certain features of US policy.)

“Might is right” is a misleading summary. The Athenians were asserting that, when the mighty see the weak as their prey, “the right” is a moral concept that doesn’t enter the picture. Might is just might, as is the case with a lion overcoming an antelope, or Viking raiders pillaging a monastery. There’s no morality in play.

The Melians have no answer at this level. They try an argument from self interest, which should always have some purchase. Their pitch is straightforward : we Melians are neutral, minding our own business. We are no threat.  What does it profit Athens to make us subjects, at the probable cost of Athenian lives and treasure?

To this the Athenians reply: it is precisely your neutrality that annoys us. Your island lies close to the cluster of our allies and subjects. You rather stand out as avoiding our grip. You may be perceived as sign of our weakness, a potential incentive to others to seek escape from our domination. We cannot allow this. Our interest demands your submission or subjugation .

The Melians have in reality no cards left to play. But they cling to the hope offered by futile cards from another deck.

“The Gods will be on our side”, they claim. The Athenians scoff: look at how the Gods intervene in human life- they are much like us Athenians [in their cynical acts].

“The Spartans, who ages ago founded Melos, will come to our aid.” The Athenians scoff once more: that is not in the Spartan character; in any event they would not risk an intervention by sea against the powerful Athenian navy.

Nevertheless the Melians decide to take their chance and defy Athens. They have some limited defensive success . Then their city is stormed. The men are slaughtered; the women and children are enslaved.

Might has gorged itself well.

February 2026