There is something profound in the games the games that nations take on as their ‘national sport’. The most famous is cricket, a step-by-step team game with strict rules and a long playing cycle that can take days. If that doesn’t tell you something about England look at chess favored by the Russians – a one-on-one strategy with a high degree of intellect in the play. Some say India has the same profile but they also like kabaddi which is a team sport in which one player can only hold the court while holding their breath.
Backgammon is played in Arabia. A game that no matter how strategic you are the dice rule the play and everything can resolve upon the final throw. America is all about blocking and powerful running in football.
These are perfect descriptions of national character and how each deals with the political world.
Praeterea, puto arma nuclearia Persiae delenda esse