In his work 'the tradegy of great power politics', Mearsheimer presents a very lucid construct of his idea of how the international political arena operates, bringing into the equation the often used realist argument of anarchy, and injecting his idea of the how the balance of power in such a world works due to the lack of an over arching authority that can ensure peace within states who are embroiled in a scramble to ensure survival.
Mearsheimer is at loggerheads with the existing international political structure, due to the great power struggle that ensues due to the security fears of states. He claims that states do not want to get entangled in fights, their primary aim is to survive in a system where it is feared that others will gain power so much so that they may become potential threats and the dominant forces driving weaker states due to their powerful status. An example of such a scenario can be seen by USA's strategies to counter the rise of a potential super power in the growth of China. USA, a hegemon itself for decades, sees the rise of China as a potential threat and therefore such situations are what lead to rising tensions and fears in the international system. As consequences of such a scenario, there are build-ups of arms and integration of policies that are hostile to states that pose a threat in any way.
Mearsheimer also speaks against the liberal approach to defining the structures of the international political arena, and instead presents alternative views of Offensive and Defensive realism which, in his opinion, are more pertinent in explaining global workings of states'. Offensive realism dictates that states try to maintain an equilibrium of the balance of power in international area, and may try to shift it towards themselves, with the intention of survival as paramount. Offensive realism explains the actions of states as actors who aim to maximize their power, and therefore automatically ensure their survival. Both, therefore, explain why states do what they do in order to survive in seemingly uncertain and hostile conditions.
Mearsheimer's work is approachable and presented in a way that is easy to grasp and wrap one's head around. It also sheds light's on the power struggles that have dominated the world in the last century, and gives us a point of reference to predict and study the potential struggles that exist or may exist around us. His theories can be applied to Pakistan and India, two countries with mutual distrust who have been in an arms race, are wary of each others actions and will take all measures to counter the shift in the balance of power to the other.
Mearsheimer is at loggerheads with the existing international political structure, due to the great power struggle that ensues due to the security fears of states. He claims that states do not want to get entangled in fights, their primary aim is to survive in a system where it is feared that others will gain power so much so that they may become potential threats and the dominant forces driving weaker states due to their powerful status. An example of such a scenario can be seen by USA's strategies to counter the rise of a potential super power in the growth of China. USA, a hegemon itself for decades, sees the rise of China as a potential threat and therefore such situations are what lead to rising tensions and fears in the international system. As consequences of such a scenario, there are build-ups of arms and integration of policies that are hostile to states that pose a threat in any way.
Mearsheimer also speaks against the liberal approach to defining the structures of the international political arena, and instead presents alternative views of Offensive and Defensive realism which, in his opinion, are more pertinent in explaining global workings of states'. Offensive realism dictates that states try to maintain an equilibrium of the balance of power in international area, and may try to shift it towards themselves, with the intention of survival as paramount. Offensive realism explains the actions of states as actors who aim to maximize their power, and therefore automatically ensure their survival. Both, therefore, explain why states do what they do in order to survive in seemingly uncertain and hostile conditions.
Mearsheimer's work is approachable and presented in a way that is easy to grasp and wrap one's head around. It also sheds light's on the power struggles that have dominated the world in the last century, and gives us a point of reference to predict and study the potential struggles that exist or may exist around us. His theories can be applied to Pakistan and India, two countries with mutual distrust who have been in an arms race, are wary of each others actions and will take all measures to counter the shift in the balance of power to the other.
Good point on India-Pakistan and I think it highlights how states can never be sure of the intentions of other states.
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