Handshake has implied three centres of power

One thing that is always present in power play is jitteriness. Those who have power struggle to keep it while those seeking power manufacture excuses to cause commotion in order to acquire power. Subsequently, suspicion on everything and everyone prevails as groups try to decipher what the other is up to.

Sophisticated game theorists, attempting to make themselves relevant, conjure up various explanations. They advise power players to be conversant with two competing lessons from the past, to be ruthless, cunning, and mischievous in acquiring and keeping power and to do whatever may be necessary to maintain order, unity and stability. Since circumstances - influenced by place and time - determine the scale and lessons to be applied, some political players are caught in between.