Session 12: Only a god-king can defeat the Greeks

The book, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, by John Mearsheimer paints the entire picture of how the international politics really works, how the game of international internationals is really played. I have observed that when Mearsheimer talks about the states pursuing the aim of being hegemon, he is literally echoing the voices of Nicholas Spykman and Ernst Haas who brought forward the concept of balance of power as hegemony in Ernst's article "The balance of power". According to Spykman, the balance of power can be understood as the search for hegemony. The constant hunt for hegemonial position will never end the continual conflict between the states. Spykman also maintains that if it falls short of total war, this conflict has to result in some sort of equilibrium. Unfortunately even the search for slight superiority wipes out the equilibrium once it is attained at any one point. This is what Mearsheimer points out that the pursuit for more power encourages the great powers to alter the distribution of world power in their favor only if they are capable enough to do so. But why do the great powers are always competing with each other for more power? Why do they behave in such a manner?

Mearsheimer believes that the the international system is structured in a way that forces the states to seek protection from each other and hence act aggressively towards one another. Mearsheimer highlights three features of the international system that cause states to fear each other. Firstly, since the central authority doesn't exist in the international arena, there is no institution powerful enough to sit above all the states and protect them from each other. Secondly, there is a fact that all states are capable for carrying out offensive military actions. Lastly, the states are always unaware of the intentions of other states.

This feeling of constant fear or insecurity forces the states to recognize that the more powerful they are relative to other states, the more chances they have to survive. Only being a hegemon can guarantee their protection from their rivals because no other state can dare to upset or threaten a mighty power. Just like Artemisia advices to Xerxes that "only a god king can defeat the Greeks". Being a king only is not enough to avenge the death of King Darius and defeat all the Greek states. One has to have more power to do so and the only way to gain more power is to become a god-king.

After having said all that, I totally agree with Mearsheimer that the international politics is surely a ruthless and dangerous game and it is pretty much likely that it will remain that way.