https://www.mearsheimer.com/
Originally published 2022
Professor John J. Mearsheimer will discuss the current Russian invasion on Ukraine whilst exploring the potential causes and consequences of the crisis.
In this lecture, Prof. Mearsheimer will aim to focus on both the origins of the war in Ukraine and some of its most important consequences. He will argue that the crisis is largely the result of the West’s efforts to turn Ukraine into a Western bulwark on Russia’s border. Russian leaders viewed that outcome as an existential threat that had to be thwarted. While Vladimir Putin is certainly responsible for invading Ukraine and for Russia’s conduct in the war, Prof. Mearsheimer states that he does not believe he is an expansionist bent on creating a greater Russia. Regarding the war’s consequences, the greatest danger is that the war will go on for months if not years, and that either NATO will get directly involved in the fighting or nuclear weapons will be used — or both. Furthermore, enormous damage has already been inflicted on Ukraine. A prolonged war is likely to wreak even more devastation on Ukraine.
Prof. John J. Mearsheimer is the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor in the Political Science Department at the University of Chicago.
Note : You can skip the Q&A section , you are not going top miss anything except the confirmation of how western present day students/academia is brain washed to the extreme , not clever enough to grasp even basic postulates of this excellent lecture , and as someone in the comments said :
"Scary of what the future will look like with these entitled, border-stupid bimbos , completely divorced from reality in charge "
John J. Mearsheimer (born December 14, 1947) is an American political scientist and international relations scholar. He is the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, where he has taught since 1982. Mearsheimer is widely considered one of the most influential—and provocative—thinkers of the realist school in international relations.
Core Theoretical Contribution: Offensive Realism
Mearsheimer is the primary architect of Offensive Realism, a structural theory of international politics outlined in his seminal work, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001).
Key Assumptions:
Anarchy: The international system is anarchic, meaning there is no central authority above states to protect them.
Offensive Capability: All great powers possess some offensive military capability, allowing them to hurt or destroy each other.
Uncertainty: States can never be certain about other states' intentions.
Survival: Survival is the primary goal of great powers.
Rationality: States are rational actors that think strategically about how to survive in the system.
Major Works and Controversies
The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001)
In this book, Mearsheimer argues that the "tragedy" is that even peace-loving states are forced to compete for power to ensure their own survival. He predicts that the rise of China cannot be peaceful, as China will seek regional hegemony in Asia while the United States will seek to prevent it.
The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy (2007)
Co-authored with Stephen Walt, this book argues that the U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East is significantly influenced by a "pro-Israel lobby." They contended that this influence often pushes U.S. policy in directions that are not in the American national interest. The book was met with intense debate and accusations of bias, which the authors vigorously denied.
The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities (2018)
In this work, Mearsheimer critiques "Liberal Hegemony"—the U.S. policy of spreading democracy and human rights abroad. He argues that such efforts are destined to fail because nationalism and realism are more powerful forces than liberalism.
Perspectives on Contemporary Conflicts
The War in Ukraine
Mearsheimer has been a prominent and controversial voice regarding the conflict in Ukraine. He argues that:
The West (specifically NATO and the EU) bears primary responsibility for the crisis by attempting to turn Ukraine into a Western bulwark on Russia's border.
Russia perceives NATO expansion as an existential threat.
He predicted as early as 2014 that the West's policy was "leading Ukraine down the primrose path" toward destruction.
The Rise of China
Mearsheimer maintains a "pessimistic" view of U.S.-China relations. He argues that:
The U.S. made a strategic blunder by engaging with China and helping it grow wealthy.
An intense security competition is inevitable.
A "Cold War II" is already underway, with a much higher risk of "hot" war than during the original Cold War.
"In a world where there is no phone number to call 911, states have to worry about their survival."
"The sad fact is that international politics has always been a ruthless and dangerous business, and it is likely to remain that way."
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