Die Torheit der Regierenden. Von Troja bis Vietnam.

The article summarizes the book "The Folly of Rulers: From Troy to Vietnam" by Barbara W. Tuchman. The book examines political and military actions that can be considered as folly. The author defines three criteria for folly: firstly, the policy must have been recognized as counterproductive at the time; secondly, there must have been viable alternative actions; and thirdly, the policy must have been pursued by a group rather than an individual ruler. The book includes case studies spanning over 3,000 years of history, including the Trojan War, the missteps of Renaissance popes, and the United States' defeat in Indochina. The article states that Russia's war in Ukraine can be considered as folly according to the book's criteria. It is noted that the war is not only a crime but also a fundamental folly that Russia and the world will have to bear for a long time. [Extracted from the article]