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Almost a month after Donald Trump's unexpected, for most, electoral success, governments and analysts are trying to predict the axes and directions of his policy. Obvious concerns revolve mainly around the implementation of Trump's contradictory and often "inflammatory" campaign statements. Awaiting also the choices of his close associates and officials who will partially prescribe the policy directions of the new presidency.

In Athens, with a government that seems to have been taken by surprise by Clinton's defeat, we are trying on the one hand to discover Greek-Americans in the president's staff and on the other hand we are worried about the possible infiltration of persons friendly to Turkey. Certainly, personal perceptions, sympathies and interests influence, to a certain extent, international interstate relations and especially in the complex American system of legalized lobbies. So the concerns and the attempts to penetrate and influence the president's new environment are legitimate, but it would be good not to be complacent and not to be content with similar wishes and unfounded hopes of "philhellene outbursts".
 
Mutual and beneficial coexistence with a superpower is a difficult task, especially when there is competition from other states of similar, perhaps even greater geostrategic value. The favor of the superpower is difficult to achieve, especially in the event that it will harm another neighboring candidate and possibly push it to turn to the other side to maximize its profits. Nor does the constant reference to our national rights enshrine and secure them against our competitors. International relations are a field of continuous competition and an attempt to survive through the increase and projection of power. It has been so since the creation of the first organized groups and societies and will continue to be so for a long time to come.

As for the alliances, they are described by Thucydides in his work in the best way when the Athenian Euphemia, as a representative of the powerful Athenian alliance, addresses the people of Kamarina (a city in Sicily) saying:
 "Everyone must be an enemy or a friend according to the circumstances. And our own interest here is served, not if we weaken our friends, but if our enemies become powerless through the strength of our friends. Nor should you appear distrustful. For we treat our allies there as each can serve us best" (Thucydides, Histories, VI'85, translated by Eleftherios Venizelos).
The functioning of alliances is masterfully depicted. A prerequisite for profitable participation in the alliance is the "power" (strength) of each participant who will secure the interests of the strong group and possibly through it also their own. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the international environment and its mode of operation. Over time, therefore, the correct placement in "alliances" and "axes" and the calculation of the weight of each country depends basically on its power. The concept of power is multi-level and refers to a variety of measurable and non-measurable factors (economy, demography, armed forces, society, leadership, etc.). The crowning glory of power, even today and rather with increasing trends, appears to be military power as the ideologies of neoliberalism seem to be retreating. However, military power is undoubtedly based significantly (and) on economic power. The role of international relations is also very important, but in our case there are probably significant limitations, without this meaning that there is no room for maneuver. However, all forms of power originate from people (citizens, voters) and are appropriately shaped by elected political leaderships, which in turn are influenced by the "elites" of each place. The last sentence also presents the main problem of our country with the inability to draw up and implement a stable strategy for acquiring power as a result of the structural dysfunction of institutions and the decline of values, with significant co-responsibility of all three parties (citizens, leaderships, elites).

So instead of celebrating, mourning, or remaining embarrassed by the election of Donald Trump, let us focus our efforts on rebuilding the "house," avoiding looking for external saviors or "dark" forces that are working towards our disappearance.