The Tragedy of Great Power PoliticsAs the Cold War fades, leaders and theorists alike speak of a new era, when democracy and open trade will join hands to banish outright war. With insight and irreverence worthy of The Prince, John Mearsheimer exposes the truth behind this idyllic rhetoric: in a world where no international authority reigns, hegemony is the only insurance of security. Of little consequence are trade, treaties, or the bonds of international organizations; because even an ally's intentions are uncertain, states must be ready to strike first when danger lurks. Having exploded onto the scene with his sensational Atlantic article, Mearsheimer has forged his bracing analysis in the heated policy debates following the fall of the Soviet Union. Here is the culmination of a provocative career -- a tour de force that formally advances his theory of "offensive realism" and, as supporting evidence, unveils a comprehensive, eye-opening history of modern states and their hawkish ways. With its authority and unrelenting honesty, this book will invigorate academics, vex politicians, and excite even the casual observer of international affairs. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Anarchy and the Struggle for Power | 29 |
Wealth and Power | 55 |
The Primacy of Land Power | 83 |
Strategies for Survival | 138 |
Great Powers in Action | 168 |
The Offshore Balancers | 234 |
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aggressive aggressor air force alliance allies American amphibious attack Austria Austria-Hungary balance of power balancing coalition behavior bipolarity Bismarck blockade Britain British buck-passing capability chap Chapter China Cold Cold War conflict conquer contain Cornell University Press defeat defense Diplomacy dominate economic Empire Europe and Northeast example fighting Foreign Policy France France and Russia France's French army Furthermore German army Germany's great-power History Hitler international politics International Security international system invaded invasion Italy Ithaca Japan Japanese Kingdom and France Korea land power latent power leaders London military power minor powers multipolar systems Napoleon National naval navy Nazi Germany Northeast Asia nuclear weapons offensive realism peace percent policymakers population potential hegemon Princeton University Press Red Army rivals Russia security competition Soviet Union Stalin strategic bombing strategy territory theory threat threatened Triple Entente troops unbalanced multipolarity United Kingdom victory wars wealth Wehrmacht World Politics World War II York