Session 12: There can be no peace.

John Mearshaimer, in his piece ‘The Tragedy of Great Power Politics’, discusses the most important concepts in the field of International Relations. These concepts include anarchy, security and balance of power. Mearshaimer, an Offensive Realist, highlights the importance of ‘power’ in the international order, and the necessity of states to build up their military power (hard power) to maintain a certain level of hierarchy within states. The most striking characteristic of any rational, self-interested state would be that their decisions are unpredictable and their intentions unclear. 

Mearshiemer criticizes Liberalism as being over-simplistic in explain inter-state relations in the international arena. Liberalism argues that all states need resources, and the only way these resources can be shared is through trade and economic interdependence. If there is some level of dependence between states, and mutual gains for all, why would there be war? The author answers this by presenting the anarchic nature of the international system. States fight for ‘survival’, to be at the top of the hegemonic cycle, a reason why states build on their ‘hard power’. China has recently increased its military budget. Is it for defensive purposes? From a Offensive Realist perspective, China could be increasing their military power as its economic power is already challenging the global hegemon, USA. Having more hard power could make China the most powerful nation on Earth, and therefore the new global hegemon. Mearshimer supports this by saying,’ Indeed, the best guarantee of survival is to be a hegemon, because no other state can seriously threaten such a mighty power.’

 Mearshimer, in his analysis, makes it clear that peace and inter-dependence are not an option in international politics. States will always better themselves to be at the top of the power cycle, and any kind of threat against this pursuit for hegemony will be met by war.