Post-cold war, the U.S. moved from an Offensive Realism strategy (protect U.S. interests at all costs) to a Liberal Hegemony strategy (promote liberal democracies globally at all costs).
We got high on our own supply.
For the US, "it was worse than a crime. It's a blunder"
We got high on our own supply.
For the US, "it was worse than a crime. It's a blunder"
According to John Mearsheimer:
Offensive realism:
You can never be sure of intentions of other states.
Why? You don't even know who will be in charge in five years.
Best to assume that all relationships are just temporary alliances driven by mutual self-interest.
Offensive realism:
You can never be sure of intentions of other states.
Why? You don't even know who will be in charge in five years.
Best to assume that all relationships are just temporary alliances driven by mutual self-interest.
As such, the best way for a country to survive is to be the most powerful player and limit the power acquisition of other countries.
Defensive realists hold the opposite of these beliefs.
U.S. didn't do enough to stop the rise of China in Mearsheimer's estimation.
Defensive realists hold the opposite of these beliefs.
U.S. didn't do enough to stop the rise of China in Mearsheimer's estimation.
Both offensive & defensive realists agreed that Liberal Hegemony was a big mistake (wars in Middle East)
Liberal Hegemony was based on the mistake that liberalism was universally shared, and that it was a more powerful & cohering force than nationalism.
Liberal Hegemony was based on the mistake that liberalism was universally shared, and that it was a more powerful & cohering force than nationalism.
Where offensive & defensive realists disagreed is on what to do about China.
Defensive said "wait and see". Offensive said "not so fast"
Both Obama & Trump campaigned against "Forever Wars" in Middle East, but deep state too strong for them to back out.
Defensive said "wait and see". Offensive said "not so fast"
Both Obama & Trump campaigned against "Forever Wars" in Middle East, but deep state too strong for them to back out.
Henry Kissinger is a strange realist:
- Favored Vietnam War
- Favored Iraq War
- Opposed 2015 Iran nuclear agreement
People say Obama was too isolationist or soft but he was hawkish (e.g. Libya, Sirya
- Favored Vietnam War
- Favored Iraq War
- Opposed 2015 Iran nuclear agreement
People say Obama was too isolationist or soft but he was hawkish (e.g. Libya, Sirya
Problems w/ Liberal Hegemony:
- Creating liberal democracy is hard.
- Not everyone wants to be a liberal democracy
- Undermines nationalism, the strongest ideology on the planet
- Social engineering creates enemies.
- Creating liberal democracy is hard.
- Not everyone wants to be a liberal democracy
- Undermines nationalism, the strongest ideology on the planet
- Social engineering creates enemies.
Liberal Hegemony tried to create democratic gov'ts even in countries that hated us.
In contrast, offensive realism served U.S. interests first and foremost.
We regularly overthrew even democratic governments (e.g. Guatemala, Chile) if they weren't acting against U.S. interests
In contrast, offensive realism served U.S. interests first and foremost.
We regularly overthrew even democratic governments (e.g. Guatemala, Chile) if they weren't acting against U.S. interests
US missed it's chance for a unipolar world, & now will likely face a multi-polar world
We'll potentially worry about US-China relations, Russia relations, a potential cold war over the Persian Gulf (China imports 25% of oil from there)
"It's worse than a crime, it's a blunder"
We'll potentially worry about US-China relations, Russia relations, a potential cold war over the Persian Gulf (China imports 25% of oil from there)
"It's worse than a crime, it's a blunder"
