Berlin’s Hedgehogs and Foxes: A Lens for Understanding Putin’s Ukraine Misadventure and Xerxes’ Greek Failure
Isaiah Berlin’s metaphorical division of thinkers into hedgehogs and foxes — borrowed from the ancient Greek poet Archilochus — provides a compelling framework for understanding not just historical figures but also modern political leaders. The essay “The Hedgehog and the Fox” may have been penned in 1953, but it presents a philosophical distinction that remains strikingly relevant today. The framework can be applied to examine the striking parallels and subtle differences between Xerxes I of Persia and his failed conquest of Greece, and Vladimir Putin’s complicated entanglement in Ukraine.
The Hedgehog’s Monolithic Vision: A Double-Edged Sword
Berlin’s classification of Xerxes as a hedgehog is incredibly insightful. The Persian King, driven by a monolithic vision of universal empire, suffered from a tunnel-vision-like focus that ultimately led to his undoing. This single-mindedness parallels Putin’s approach toward Ukraine, wherein the desire to exert Russian influence and control has been central. Both leaders exhibit hedgehog-like tendencies, adhering to a core vision that blinds them to the subtleties and complexities of the societies they seek to dominate.
And therein lies the first significant similarity. Both Putin and Xerxes exhibited the classic hedgehog’s underestimation of the culture, tenacity, and resistance of their adversaries. For Xerxes, it was the fiercely independent Greek city-states, each with its intricate social and political makeup. For Putin, it was Ukraine — a country balancing its rich history with a modern desire for autonomy and Western alignment.
Underestimation: The Pitfall of Power
Underestimation of one’s capabilities is perhaps the most tragic trait of the hedgehog mentality. Xerxes’ invasion force, large enough to “drink rivers dry,” failed against smaller, tactical Greek forces. Likewise, Putin miscalculated Ukraine’s resilience and the complexities involved in a protracted engagement, not to mention the strength and unity of international sanctions and diplomatic pressures against Russia. Both leaders failed to appreciate the full range of geopolitical variables and social forces at play, leading to decisions that would trap them in military and diplomatic quagmires.
The Foxes on the Sidelines
It’s worth contrasting these hedgehog figures with Berlin’s foxes — individuals who appreciate the diversity of human experience and recognize the complexities inherent in any large-scale human endeavor. In Berlin’s framework, Herodotus serves as the fox to Xerxes’ hedgehog. Had Xerxes been able to borrow Herodotus’ multi-dimensional curiosity, he might have avoided the pitfalls of his monolithic vision. The international community, particularly Western democracies opposing Russia’s actions in Ukraine, plays a similar “foxy” role, holding Putin accountable and complicating his myopic vision of a Russia-centric post-Soviet space.
Concluding Thoughts
Through the lens of Isaiah Berlin’s metaphor, we can draw insightful parallels between Xerxes’ failed conquest of Greece and Putin’s Ukraine endeavor. Both tales serve as cautionary stories for the hedgehog-minded — those who allow a singular vision to blind them to the intricate tapestry of human society and geopolitics. It reminds us that understanding, in the true foxy sense, demands more than a monolithic viewpoint; it requires the appreciation of the complex, multi-dimensional world we inhabit.
