The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam

Barbara Tuchman examines why governments consistently adopt policies that contradict their own strategic interests. She defines state folly as the pursuit of a disastrous course of action despite the availability of feasible alternatives and clear warnings of impending failure. The analysis follows four historical case studies: the Trojans bringing the Greek horse within their walls, the Renaissance Popes provoking the Protestant Secession, the British government losing its American colonies, and the United States escalating involvement in the Vietnam War. Tuchman focuses on the psychological refusal of leaders to adjust their mental models when faced with contrary evidence.

Students of political science and military history read this work to understand the recurring patterns of institutional wooden-headedness. Readers gain a framework for identifying when a ruling elite has become untethered from reality through pride or intellectual stagnation. The book provides a practical vocabulary for discussing how bureaucratic momentum and the fear of losing face prevent the reversal of doomed projects. By the end, a reader can recognize the specific indicators of political suicide across different eras and governance structures.