Niall Ferguson rebuts John Mearsheimer: Don't Underestimate the China-Russia-Iran Axis

[@CISAus]

What should the USA do about Russia, China and Iran?

[@INDIGOBLUE555]

@@CISAus What the US would "like to do" ?!! As for my understanding at the Pentagon they would be glad to set up a bipolar scenario with Russian Federation as a strategic partner. Never say never 🇺🇸🌐🇷🇺

[@bertilhaggman7937]

@@INDIGOBLUE555 25:43 😊😊❤q😊q😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊q

[@SI-qp7cm]

Gods you guys are in a bubble. NATO just got its butt handed to them after a full capability frontal attack. Land, Sea, Air and economic. Russia is stronger than before and NATO doctrine proven to be inadequate. Face facts, the West cannot maintain or succeed in any military conflict . We can barely figure out our gender. Our strength is not in military , to kid ourselves is criminal

[@utility00]

@@SI-qp7cm What PC game is this? Was the graphics good?

[@nimanthanadunge4549]

accept multipolarity and focus on their own peoples interests first. no ones gone come for their head. lets put an end to fear mongering please.

[@888nicklim]

Tom described him as an intellectual? More like a hired mouthpiece. What a waste of my time.

[@risumotus]

Yes, i think so too. And his talk is very boring.

[@ansa336]

Hear! Hear! A renowned Historian who forget that Russian main naval (Savastopol) base is in Cremea, the Russian part of Ukraine; or the 'one China' official policy of the US.

[@elbarca223]

Well said. Niall Ferguson is indeed a hired mouthpiece.

[@Davidbeattiification]

Obscene to put a cheap shill like Ferguson up against a serious academic like Mearsheimer.

[@noahsark2009]

​@@risumotusit's nice to see that Russia's hired mouthpieces realize they have to take Mr Ferguson seriously.

[@davidmills2535]

I can't believe I listened to his drivel. He cites CIA head William Burns as someone he respects enormously but forgets the "Nyet Means Nyet" memo, what a schmuck.

[@ciprynus]

With Niall Ferguson is not about what he thinks, it is about who pays his bills

[@disdoncable]

Who pays his bills?

[@naeemdollie6836]

@@disdoncable The hungry hippos eating in the background.

[@kirstinstrand6292]

@@disdoncable Anyone who will hire him for his mouth.

[@bola0909]

Appears to be a common factor applies almost universaly this days.

[@elbarca223]

Niall Ferguson is misinterpreting the situation.

[@tnndll4294]

FERGUSON predicted Putin would invade in 2022, while Mearshimer said he would not.

[@tnndll4294]

In 2008, Ferguson also predicted Putin's first invasion and he even named the place: Crimea. (see his Scottish Herald interview).

[@AplusStrategy]

The crowd on this channel clearly are immune to facts and reason. Ferguson is in their mind a neocon wherefore everything he says must be both wrong and immoral...

[@SuperKripke]

Yikes, the comments aren't buying what Niall Ferguson is selling. A huge step down from John Mearsheimer.

[@aimedia9020]

I buy about 80% of Meirsheimer's position. However, he simply doesn't understand China. Projecting Western thinking onto China is simplistic and wrong.

[@SuperKripke]

@aimedia9020 Mearsheimer isn't gospel and all theories have their valid criticism, even political realism. Ferguson's neocolonial viewpoints stem from an ideology that has been morally bankrupt for the last 100 years despite its frequency in practice: Israel being a perfect example.

[@SegzWithTedCruz]

Seriously, this sloganeer doesn't deserve to be named in the same sentence as JM

[@tnndll4294]

Ferguson predicted both of Putin's invasions. He even named the place: Crimea.

[@vhdlx]

@@aimedia9020 He's wrong about russia as well. the fact of matter is russia just doesnt care about the sovereignty of eastern europe. putin isnt trying to uphold some "strategic depth" strategy by taking over eastern europe. he just straight up doesnt think they should exist, period. its a blatantly imperial ambition.

[@Psykologisss]

It is very difficult to identify arguments in Nialls speech here. Fragmented without real substance.

[@mariapaisieva4511]

Yeah right from the beginning he said he is going to explain how Mershiamer is wrong... So he announced that he doesn't a solid thesis, he just wants to gaslight everyone.

[@dasweiszeschaf7214]

Exactly!!

[@bijoydas449]

Absolutely correct. I was about to write the same. I found him just chewing some words without any meaning.

[@SegzWithTedCruz]

They only have two responses to actual facst. Slogans and Smearing, this idiot was heavy on the slogans.

[@haykeg.7507]

How dare you say that? What about his argument about euh…. Or when…. Damn it…what about his impression of Donald trump ? I think it is worth wasting 45min of your life.

[@SethManex]

This is childish at best…a lot of name calling. No coherent argument against Mearsheimer’s position.

He's a buffoon.

[@redsix5165]

He said it clearly- Mearsheimer’s realism calls for deescalation, which Ferguson argues is provocative. He argues that deterrence comes through strength and that China, Russia, NK and Iran are now all playing a part in the Russian war against UKR and as such, not managing that - eg deescalating and turning toward the ‘real’ threat of China - is not going to make the Chinese conflict/competition/rivalry any easier to manage bc they will view the US and the West as weak…and will bolster China to take risks with Taiwan or other Asian allies.

[@mohammadismail9000]

@@redsix5165 "China, Russia, NK and Iran are now all playing a part in the Russian war against UKR" - well, deescalation would prevent this alliance of working together against UKR." they will view the US and the West as weak"- well, they can "view" whatever they want but reality is China would not have russia as alliance and US could fully concentrate on china and prevent actual crisis.

[@robertomanca9700]

From the comments it seems watching this video would be a waste of 42 odd minutes. I know Meirsheimer's argument and it's very hard to refute. But I wanted to watch this to hear other bells too and keep myself openminded. Yet, it seems this is not a counter argument and it's below an acceptable level of seriousness.

[@rageburst]

I went through the 40 min, and it's like listening to a bunch of statements without any cohesion of relevance to each other. I was hoping to have an actual counter-argument, but I couldn't even get a gist of what he is even trying to communicate.

[@voiceofreason6515]

It all comes down to if you support the West or not. You and most of the commenters clearly prefer China and Russia. Yes those bastions of freedom.

[@VaughanMcCue]

Who are the two best challengers to Meirsheimer's arguments?

[@rageburst]

@@VaughanMcCue Personally, those that argue that economic cooperation and nuclear deterrence can transcend the need for balancing against one another. However, this doesn't solve what is effectively the Prisonner's dilemma. If one nation-state decides to not play along, another state's survival will be put at risk. Nuclear deterrence is good at making everyone sober, but it does not guarantee that it wouldn't be used especially in situations where the conditions for peace are not acceptable. Mearsheimer's preferred grand strategy is Offshore balancing and it's well worth looking into. It's a step above isolationism and you can use America's decision to help in both World Wars as an example of when to use military force, and leave once the regional forces can maintain the balance of power themselves. Otherwise, I think you have to go out of the box to go against the dictates of his theory and to fundamentally change at least one of the underlying assumptions of realist theory. Example, if we transform our world to become hierarchic somehow (instead of anarchic), nation-states wouldn't compete with each other. Such an event would be like aliens inviting us to join the Star Trek Federation.

[@Forest_Knight]

it's actually easy to refute, unless you throw out the ideological premise that "whatever Russia does is good, whatever US does is bad".

[@retrocool]

I tried, I really did. But there's only so much glib neoliberal claptrap one man can take.

[@VirginiaKa-h4h]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@TheWhitehiker]

John?

[@JonWilde2105]

Yup, I got so far I thought come on, just power through. But the smug stupidity is intolerable.

[@Llewellyn2844]

Ferguson is nothing but a smug, supercilious twat.

[@aftdel]

He’s a phenomenal writer and incredibly smart. But unfortunately he has gone full neocon.

[@neildutoit5177]

Didn't actually know who this guy was. Didn't read the comments. Just started listening to what I thought was going to be a serious alternative take to Mearsheimer. Wow that was so cringe.

[@alkasolent]

Utter nonsense. The man lacks depth.

[@hdaniel2100]

Very disappointing. The intellectual level is embarrassing.

[@brandon-hh7jf]

Yes, nothing but WEF talking points and inverted truths shows Ferguson is merely an apologist for a post colonial order under threat.

[@mrbigolnuts3041]

You realize who you are speaking about?

[@markmarcas6523]

He is an idiot. When highly educated and connected ppl make absurd claims that are clearly political and not connected to reality they are nothing but intellectual prostitude which describes NF.

[@chickenlover657]

Nothing "intellectual" here. Just adolescent humor and mocking. Zero argument.

[@mic982]

Perhaps your own "intellectual level" is found wanting? If you fail to grasp what points are being made in an argument, a reassessment of your own assumptions of that argument might be advisable.

[@MurrayLake]

Nothing worse than a Limy warmonger. He knows who butters his bread.

[@RadioTiberio]

It's depressing how much purchase Mearsheimer's crappy ideas have in the discourse.

[@KarelNovak-z6z]

He should be refuted in less arrogant way then. I can't stand upper class Brits and their style.

[@zubinix]

The Axis of Evil invaded and killed over 1 million people in Iraq. We are talking about the same countries right?

[@Leah-ju8ht]

The Axis of Evil also invaded Afghanistan; I think they wanted migrants

[@uschurch]

Are you delusional? Shiites getting back at Sunni's caused 97% of the deaths in Iraq after the fall of Saddam, which pretty much everyone with a moral compass welcomed. Ru propaganda is so transparent...

[@tnndll4294]

The US does not want to stay in the countries it invades. Russia, China do.

[@MaxPayne-fi1mz]

​@@Leah-ju8htI think we should take Afghan refugees 😅. Some of the best Americans I have seen are from there.

[@milosurosevic8729]

axis also destroyed Yugoslavia, serious country which was potential competitor to big european countries, and then, against international law and without un resolution, bombed Yugoslavia to stop non existing genocide in order to occupy our province of kosovo, install their base there and to steal enormous amounts of coal from that region

[@sahrbockarie9710]

Australia 🇦🇺 should focus on economic growth, trade cooperation with our neighbours, and good governance. We are not interested in excessive militarism.

[@gilligan87]

Define "excessive"

[@paulbestwick2426]

​@@gilligan87I think he means anything above minimal is excessive

[@gilligan87]

@@paulbestwick2426 then he likely doesn't understand the position his country is in

[@brandon-hh7jf]

But US/UK need militarism to preserve their anglo-saxon empire. They try to self-interestedly make the case that if their empire goes down so do we......which is not true.

[@mirkovic]

Australia would need to grow a pair… something that as a nation we seem to be unable or unwilling to do…

[@teoengchin]

The stand-up comedian they hired to entertain their dinner guests wasn't very funny

[@carlosdangerfield9477]

They should've hired Tony.

[@springinfialta106]

Needs work on his impersonations, especially on impersonating a believable historian.

[@darthmortus5702]

Honestly his charisma is his best part, but we did not come here to be entertained but to be informed and that is where he fails flat.

[@anthonieversluis5895]

Just imagine the nightmare of having this narcissist as your dinner guest..

[@no_humbug1535]

Cringingly bumptious, so pleased with himself, dangerous, celebrity historian Ferguson!

[@stirlingmoss9637]

Try some facts darling or just go back to Hello Magazine.

[@jmfangio286]

Had a few drinks, I think, rather expansive.

[@donrayjay]

Remember this guy argued the Iraq war was a good idea - tells you all you need to know. His only good book was his first book, The Pity of War, that argued the First World War was unnecessary. Every book after that has been pro every US war of aggression and apologetic for British and US colonialism

[@rexiioper6920]

he discovered where the cash was after the first book

[@PetarPopara]

Because those sources are more lucrative than free thinking.

[@lambchop3805]

If I had to explain what “wrong and delusional” means I’ll just show this video. Dear Lord not a single argument makes sense.

[@steinadleradler3431]

Who needs enemies when you have speakers like Niall. Morally bankrupt and totally senseless

[@zak992]

God help us if oxford, harvard and stanford can produce such a lightweight neocon, had to stop half way through, the man aint got a clue how the world works

[@marquardtfrickert3939]

This guy is so pro Israel.... I think he's almost like a CIA spokesperson to be honest lol

[@captiveexile2670]

Yes, MEARSCHEIMER'S A R E A L I S T !

[@FarTooFar]

Mearsheimer believes everything Putin says with utmost credulity. He's just coasting on his reputation from the 60s. The russobots here pretending he's still relevant are truly pathetic.

[@ozzyphil74]

Please address his points and show evidence where he has been wrong. Saying Mearsheimer believes Putin is disingenuous. You obviously believe the West including politicians who say expanding NATO isn't a threat to Russia. I can use facts to refute that sentiment. What can you bring to support your incredulity regarding Mearsheimer?

[@gedonckers]

​@@ozzyphil74 NATO expansion was an excuse, nothing more. Poland's eastern border vs Ukraine's eastern border makes no difference to Russia's security. In terms of modern weaponry, NATO would be a threat equally if it ended in France. Now, where you see Mearsheimer is disingenuous is his double standards. For Russia, might equals right. 'Putin did it, what you gonna do'. For others, its about morality of ending the loss of life. Either stick to one or the other and work out the consequences. This way, you can listen to him and think it is RT.

[@agritech802]

Yes you're 100% right, they were way too kind to Mearsheimer, he's just a pupit of Putin, it's a waste of time listening to him

[@CityofLondon_GreatGame]

@FarTooFar You sound like a City of London and Wall Street warmongering thug that is trying to maintain the rotten UK/USA hegemony🤣🤣🤢🤢🤮

[@azar1354]

Mearsheimer's reputation from the 60s?! Most KZbinrs watching Mearsheimer's videos were not even born then. Mearsheimer outlines his arguments very clearly. He has done his homework very well. You have every right to disagree with him. But accusing him of nativity?! I don't think so.

[@street_struggle7]

How can you still talk about what happened to Israel and not what Israel has done over the past 20 years? This is a clear mental inaccuracy. It weakens the entire speech. Great speaker but the ideas are just weak and cherry picked

[@moonlitsky5744]

He says Hezbollah fires missiles to kill many Israelis, leaving out that israel killed 2,000 Lebanese civilians in a few weeks. Meirshaehmaer doesn’t do that. He doesn’t mock or belittle, he explains why the parties do what they do.

[@ekesandras1481]

1993 Mearsheimer advocated for a nuclear armed Ukraine, because even back than it was evident, that someday Russia would return to an agressive imperialistic foreign policy. Today the same Mearsheimer has become a Pro-Russia peacenik, who spreads Putins narrative on a daily basis on KZbin.

[@bobmartin3896]

Does Mearsheihmer tells that there is not possible to negotiate with Hisbolah and Hamas, because their main - not negotiable - aim is to destroy the israel state? Would you negotiate with the volk who elected Hamas as the palestinians in Gaza did? They did know exactly what is the main aim of Hamas! Even though, the majority of palestinians in Gaza voted for Hamas? Would you as Israeli give Palestinians an independent state even you know that their main aim is to destroy you!? How mutch money EU and other countries donated to Gaza in last decades? This money was for build infrastructure. What the palestinians have done with this money? Their build tunnels and weaponize them. What else do the palestinians? They are reproducing them! Here an overview of Gaza citizens population: 1.5 million in 2010, and 2.1 million in 2023 and that it will rise to 2.4 million, 2.9 million in 2040. So what they have in mind over all!? Answer: to reproduce them self based on external donation and kill Israelis. Moreover, in 1986 I met in Hannover, Germany a Palestinian who got a scholarship from German government and studied in Germany. I discussed with him about conflicht between Izraelis and Palestinians and asked him, what might be the solution? He sai "wipe out Israelis ino Mediterranian sea". And, he is not only one who thinks the same. This guy might be today 65 yearsvold. His son might be one of Hamas fighters or partisans. Furthermore, Izrael made big effort in last decade to negotiate with Arabian World around and made significant improvement in relationship with them. Only who did not wellcome this arevIran, Hisbolah, Hamas, Huthy, Russia. So, they started the trouble in 2023 in order to sabotage the process of freedom in Arab World. Additinaly: Germany stared WW1, lost the war and paid with losing theritory! Germany stared WW2, lost the war and paid with losing theritory! Palestinians started 1948 the war against the Israelis. Palestinians lost the war and paid with theritory. So, you cannot start a war w/o beeint panished. Might be if you are atom superpower.

[@chriswong9158]

Worst, Meirshaehmaer would prefer to pivot the Middle East, Ukraine war to China PRC, his start of World War III

[@julialevin9752]

Why Israelis killed Lebanese? Why is Hezbollah firing rockets into Israel? Did Mearshimer explained that?

[@Muriel02]

You know nothing about hezbollah and offer an empty criticism. Must Niall explain what terrorism is and what it means to fight terror? Grow up little boy.

[@najibsameh]

His arguments are overly simplistic, rooted in a Western-privileged perspective, and fail to consider multiple viewpoints. In contrast, Mearsheimer offers a more nuanced and objective analysis.

[@voskoff7]

This guy is a mouth peace for the forever war of the neocons but with sprinkles on top

[@SergioNavasDigital]

I really wanted to see a refutation, but when he says the US is "protecting the security of democracies in Eastern Europe and the Middle East" I can't just follow it any more...

[@sebastianzeitblom4668]

Why? Because you can't stand the truth? What do you think would happen to the Baltic states, for example, if there was no US security guarantee?

[@MrAbracab]

@@sebastianzeitblom4668 It's a very common argument when one tries to justify irrational securitization: "Imagine what 'A' would do if we don't do 'B'. You are safe now only because of what we did". The real answer is that no one really knows - this kind of arguments are speculative in nature and obviously not 'truth'.

[@Gregory-kv8vj]

@@sebastianzeitblom4668 The Baltic States would be a lot more prosperous. Kissinger's words of wisdom: "It is dangerous to be an enemy of the USA. It is fatal to be a friend." Germany's economy may be fatally affected by its lapdog submission to the country which has occupied it since 1945.

[@arash8761]

​@@sebastianzeitblom4668 Iran is the only democracy in the Middle East.

[@luismariagomezdearanda5319]

​@@sebastianzeitblom4668Nothing. It is the advance of the US military towards Russia that imperils the Baltic countries. The security of Cuba or Mexico would also be compromised, and much more so, if Russia or China would pretend to put their armed forces there. This is no theory. It is a fact and a well established fact. Kennedy threatened openly with nuclear war if Cuba and the URSS did the same thong that the US is trying to do in Ukraine since 2008. Mearsheimer explained long ago that including the Ukraine in the American military system would not increase the security of the country, but bring a catastrophe for it. It is simply preposterous to deny that this has been the case.

[@arthurhughes8659]

Prof Mearsheimer doesn't have to read his presentation! He knows what he's talking about... unlike Niall Ferguson who is just a pompous talking head.

[@eduardogasparian8233]

Like the Nobel winner Richard Feynman once said. I don't l8ke to hang around the academia, they are filled with illustrious pompous people.

[@PetarPopara]

When it comes to self-importance and pomp, he's second only to the royals.

[@ahmmustafakamal696]

It’s very pathetic to bring a comedian to rebut someone as brilliant as John Mearshimer.

[@danilabezmenov3489]

You starting with ad hominem is all we need to know about the qualities of Mearshimer's admirers and likely something about quality of Mearshimer's arguments as well.

[@ahmmustafakamal696]

@@danilabezmenov3489 And someone getting adhominem while lecturing others about adhominem ? Sounds familiar.

[@RamonesFan201]

@@ahmmustafakamal696 no not really

[@danilabezmenov3489]

@@ahmmustafakamal696 , you may want to google what ad hominem is, buddy. )

[@persallnas5408]

@@danilabezmenov3489 Ignore these trolls

[@TommyAlpha-gg3ig]

4:16 Ferguson says about Henry Kissinger : Why did Henry Kissinger once say, "To be an enemy of the US is dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal"? So Australia has a choice or two, go BRICS .

[@akapbhan]

yes but kissinger also warned against admitting any eastern european countries into the nato bloc. Also, he wanted the region to be buffer space.

[@dashong8912]

He's a stupid fella. His solution for the poor is that they need more banks offering credit cards.

[@888YangJi]

this guy is such a snake oil salesman, he would practically say anything at the command of his employer. I weep for humanity if he is considered to be one of the greatest historians of our time.😔

[@Gregory-kv8vj]

Yes, and his unqualified reliance on the NYT and WaPo illustrates his lack of independent thought.

[@Avigkit]

He cites bill burns on China, but ignores bill burns “nyet means nyet” position re nato expansion

[@VictorVæsconcelos]

No, he outright agrees that Russia's stance is reasonable given how NATO systematically destroys its enemies. He thinks Putin is right to be concerned based on accounts of former US diplomats that the US intends to slice Russia in ethnic lines to dismantle its military power.

[@VictorVæsconcelos]

And that is because he thinks Russia is closer to Western values than it is to Eastern values and would side with the US against China (if they are well treated) should the need arise. So he thinks their military power is best used that way rather than extinguished.

[@VictorVæsconcelos]

My other comment was deleted for no discernible reason

[@seaside66]

My comment was deleted as well.

[@lieshtmeiser5542]

@@VictorVæsconcelos "...he thinks Russia is closer to Western values than it is to Eastern values and would side with the US against China..." Russia is not close to Western values. It is essentially a personality dictatorship like Saddam's Iraq. The idea that the USA today would support Putin against PRC is absurd. PRC is not a Nazi / Imperial Japan level threat (at least not yet), but Putin is. The only thing that Putin has done is cement enlargement of NATO and remind the world why its good that such a thing as NATO exists. The war in ukraine makes it more likely that there will be a EU defense force.

[@lastfirst6626]

The dinner should have been hotdogs and beans to match the quality of his talk.

[@zak992]

Agreed, such a lightweight

[@kennethkong5484]

Spot on

[@thewestofpecos9096]

True 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@afshinshahzamani2297]

Just hotdogs. Beans would have been unnecessary given the excessive levels of pompous flatulence emanating from the podium.

[@AKAKiddo]

That's an insult to beanie weenies.

[@zactianne6331]

I'm surprised that someone so intellectual can be so clueless about the the global political evolution that's happening in the Near East and Far East, or does he just know which side his bread gets buttered on.

[@antilove84]

the man has to fill his wallet

[@krischanlive]

This man is a propagandist. Just horrible.

[@smthgbttruth]

Thank you. I tried. Balanced perspectives and all, but it gets increasingly cringe and I quit a bit more than halfway in. Never a good sign when supposedly high analysis starts with a long story, but I still tried, just in case he wasn't an asshat

[@mcgilcol]

I would have said bootlicking apologist of Empire, but hey, tomayto, tomahto ...

[@Withnail1969]

I wasnt familiar with him until recently but strongly dislike him now

[@Melior_Traiano]

@@Withnail1969 Really? I think he's brilliant.

[@Withnail1969]

@@Melior_Traiano He's telling you what you want to hear, that's why.

[@peterabild1123]

It’s strange that some of these experts always must insist that the other expert is completely wrong. To say that NATO expansion has nothing to do with the war in Ukraine while not only Mearsheimer but also Burns , Merkel and Sarkosy all said already in 2008 that Russia would see it as declaration of war. Sure Putin also has imperialism on his mind and sure the withdrawal from Afghanistan encouraged Putin and sure some people in Ukraine wanted to join EU but not NATO. Many reasons combined caused the war but for sure the NATO expansion was the main reason. Furthermore to blame the Democratic Party for everything seems like election propaganda.

[@cryptohodler824]

Its about history, Great Britain wants Sevastopol since 1850, Russia will never allow Georgia, Ucraine to enter NATO, it can not happen, Russia will fight to bitter end in this aspects. Even nuclear war is on the table, and it has nothing with Putin.

[@andrejboskovic4867]

You forget one thing:Ukraine is not a NATO member and if you think that NATO expansion to Ukraine that never happened was a main reason for Russian aggression how comes that NATO expansion to Finland and Sweden that has really happened hadn't cause Russian aggression on those countries?

[@jean-marcducommun8185]

@@andrejboskovic4867Not mention ed that Russia was on track to end the war at a very early stage but due to an intervention from a postman with a Churchill complex the decision to punish and weaken Russia was taken because no blood needed to be spilled. This part of the story was held under wrap and makes it useless.

[@alirezafaryar3476]

Complaining why countries don't spend more on military! What did he say to debut John Mearsheimer argument? It seemed more like a case made for the military industries.

[@naviax7731]

Niall Ferguson presents a poor case. He has done the CIS in Australia a great disservice. Bring back Professor Mearsheimer next year.

[@BeepBoopBleepBlorp]

24 minutes in and I’m like “this sounds like thomas friedmann word salad. What am I missing?” Comments section validated my suspicion.

[@moonlitsky5744]

Harvard and Stanford don’t mean much after this

[@Moliere1000]

Still not as low as Princeton. Hard to believe.

[@andreistan5497]

What about Berkeley ?

[@patrickparamore1058]

They stopped meaning much a long time ago...

[@Moliere1000]

@@andreistan5497 😂

[@lastfirst6626]

Russia ended its empire peaceably and sought amicable relations with its old adversary. We gave them the Chicago Boys and threw them an anchor. Didn't mention the Minsk Agreements' Sounded like he gave up his Scottish accent for an Oxford British one. Also gave up any independence of mind.

[@awf6554]

"Russia ended its empire" 🤣 How on earth do you think Russians are ruling territory on the Pacific Ocean?

[@retrocool]

@@awf6554 because it's in Russia?

[@awf6554]

@retrocool In "Russia", populated by Chinese. But definitely not part of an Empire. 🙄 How much of the map of "Russia" is made up of subject states? But of course, Russia peaceably gave up its Empire 🤣

[@stirlingmoss9637]

You were talking sense until you became a racialist and class snob which undermined your argument.

[@michaelotieno6524]

@@awf6554 Russia is a federal state not an empire, the fact that some Russians are of Chinese ethnicity doesn't make Russia an empire. Do you even know what an empire is?

[@WhoIsWhatIDK]

This was awful. I was hoping to hear something that might challenge my thoughts and instead I got this….

[@easwaransanthakumar297]

This guy is Churchillian historian. Seeing every thing through anglo saxon lens.

[@theH0UNDSofD00M]

Have you built any sewers lately?

[@donaldseekins6516]

Here is yet another word we should banish from the English language: "Churchillian."

[@garymcnutt]

he'a an embarrassment to Ibrox, Glasgow and Scotland.

[@stirlingmoss9637]

What lens do you view the world through, Bubba?

[@easwaransanthakumar297]

@stirlingmoss9637 it's called Independent lens.

[@tb8865]

Surprisingly low-IQ rebuttal to Mearsheimer. Niall's "I'm not a Neocon but I'm going to say Neocon things" schtick is also very annoying.

[@panicbutton4380]

John Mearsheimer would eat this guy for breakfast in a live debate.

[@Abcde-u3r]

I doubt it, Prof Mearsheimer is too nice of a human being that he dose not interrupt the opponent nor pander to the crowd. He lost in some past debates, yet time had proven that he was right.

[@janjasiewicz9851]

@@Abcde-u3ryou mean when he stated that Putin won’t invade Ukraine in 2022? And the Ukraine should be be encouraged to resist the Russians

[@carlosdangerfield9477]

You really think John would eat shit? I don't think so.

[@pmays4]

Hope this gets lots of views, it shows how weak the globalists' arguments are.

[@typon1]

Niall Ferguson is just a weak intellect. I am sorry but he's just not bright enough to be giving talks on geopolitics.

[@blackcatdungeonmastersfami5311]

The problem isn't his intellect, it's his integrity. He's sold his soul to the neocons.

[@roryg94]

Very weak speech, peppered with pathetic impersonations, typical British colonial sarcasm, and innuendos about how there's been no order in the Middle East since we and the French left. As the Waterboys famously sang "Old England is dying". Maybe you will get your bagpiper, at the funeral.

[@denisdaly1708]

The Waterboys.. I'm impressed with your taste.

[@mohsinrao4334]

Niall Ferguson used to be a competent financial historian. Now he is just a hack.

[@stevebashir9330]

This argument is weak and contrived. It's not realistic. Mearsheimer's argument is much more realistic.

[@haykeg.7507]

Argument? What argument ? I watched 3 times and still looking for a single argument.

[@denako2395]

His arrogance is mind blowing. This is not an intellectual discourse. I was expecting far far better. I wasted my time

[@thewestofpecos9096]

This guy is trying so hard to sound cool and exciting...what a horrible mouthpiece for the western's condescending propaganda 🤮

[@xdude57]

This is a clown 🤡 like at a kids birthday party- he acts up because he is hired. Embarrassing.

[@jk5042]

Mr. Ferguson is not in the same premier league as Mr. Mearsheimer

[@andrewganesan7617]

Wow. I'm really surprised to see Ferguson perform so poorly. Zero substance here.

[@zahidali-mt9ck]

No wonder Ayaan Hirsi Ali had such existential crisis and contemplated ending it all... imagine being married to that

[@GlobalDrifter1000]

This chap is an embarrassment to the USA

[@garymcnutt]

Embarrassment to Glasgow as well.

[@eduardogasparian8233]

A sold out

[@KarelNovak-z6z]

He is British

[@GlobalDrifter1000]

@ he is an embarrassment to mankind

[@dusanpavlovic8580]

How is this a rebuttal of Mearsheimer? The basic premise and implicit assumption of Mearsheimer’s theory is that resources, even for great powers like the U.S., are scarce. “Deterrence depends on military readiness.” Well, that’s precisely the point. The U.S. is not prepared to wage several wars simultaneously. Mearsheimer argues that it should choose only one.

[@danilabezmenov3489]

So, what's your solution given that China wages war on multiple fronts: supports Russia to weaken the West, amasses resources to start a war in South China Sea and buys its way into Africa?

[@BobAbc0815]

Thats asuming that they have the Choice, rather then China and Proxies making that Choice (by attacking something the US needs to defend).

[@bubbles556]

On top Mersheimer argued that Nato expansion makes Russia feel threatened by its military might and strengthen its military. In his argument that is deterrence so like i don't think they disagree on a lot he's pov is flawed in where he chooses to focus on

[@danilabezmenov3489]

​@@bubbles556 , so, NATO should stop accepting new members, just so Russia doesn't attack its neighbors? How would you comment on Sweden and Finland applying to NATO as a result of Russia's invasion in Ukraine? How would you comment on Russian officials saying they have no problem with those countries being accepted to NATO (whilst this act doubled the border between NATO and Russia)? Why is Ukraine different? My version is that NATO expansion is simply a propaganda claim whilst the true motive of the invasion is Putin's obsession with Ukraine that in his view isn't a country and shouldn't exist , which he clearly stated multiple times. Unlike his successes in Chechnya and Georgia he failed to buy Ukraine's politics (long term) and thus he invaded.

[@jean-marcducommun8185]

Putin was very willing to cooperate with the West early in but over time was rebuffed on various occasions - long history short it’s a foreign policy error of the first order to try to set your challenger check mate by placing your rockets next to his door and to think that he will accept it (think Cuba). Putin had no other option as a letter to Meetoo chief earned him the middle finger, so he acted. Later then an option to end the war at an early stage was sabotaged by a person with wild blond hair but a similar mindset as the speaker and the result is what we have. So many things could have been done to avoid this situation but things have been driven in this direction by purpose. All this contradicts the viewpoint of his speach to the point that it’s just another piece of neocon like propaganda.

[@ivanludinic983]

Did Kamala Harris write this speach? An incoherent word salad.

[@Riddlestar93]

I think it's time to retire mate, you've entertained us enough.

[@allanwilson8878]

The problem is that NF still lives in a world that everyone else can see doesn't exist, the world of the neocon imagination

[@kennethkong5484]

Very shallow, and trying to be funny.. not worth continuing viewing

[@thomasfarrow7053]

*China is the largest trading partner of 140 countries [there is only 193 on the planet] - and cannot afford, nor will tolerate a blockade in the South China Sea by the West. The U.S. has some 750 military bases world-wide, and over 40 within a stone's throw of the Chinese homeland. As China out produces the U.S. manufacturing by a factor of 4 - U.S. hegemony will be challenged - just as America overcame British hegemony before it. China's history is at least 2200 years old, it is in no rush - that's an illusion created by Western politicians.*

[@TheHerrUlf]

They have no oil, moron

[@stirlingmoss9637]

There ARE only x number of partners....get the grammar right at least

[@stirlingmoss9637]

The USA is a Cuckoo on the world stage which is a place it has never understood or had no interest in understanding. The USA was envious of the functioning British Empire and undermined it even as it negotiated with its colonies for independence. The world has been at war ever since. The USA is noones friend.

[@dejanjovanovic5802]

@@stirlingmoss9637 Shallow response from a shallow person... alas, the original comment is absolutely true.

[@roryg94]

@@dejanjovanovic5802 totally agree. the original point was excellent. only for people who nitpick becaue they don't like the truth

[@AlanCzajkowski]

Niall Ferguson claiming that USA is defending democracy in Ukraine (one of the most politically corrupt nations in Europe) and Israel (where the government has declared the nation to be exclusively a Jewish state, effectively second-classing anybody non-Jewish) ... is pure comedy

[@rexiioper6920]

this is why people have stopped listening to these establishment mouthpieces

[@shelbzillathrilla]

In Israel, its mandatory military service unless you are an Arab citizen, in which case you are exempt because Israeli Arabs are not expected or trusted to ethnically cleanse their own relatives.

[@bad209]

@@shelbzillathrilla im sure you see the problem or pain point in your statement.

[@AdamS-pp9cg]

“one of the most corrupt”, good point, want to try listing the ones that are more corrupt? (and less democratic)

[@bad209]

@AdamS-pp9cg there isn't he was being diplomatic. You could argue Belarus is, but it's not even close. Ukraine is a despot state. It's not democratic. Just cause they had an election once upon a time doesn't make it a democratic. Since 2014, the government’s have been unstable, and since 2018/19, zelenzsky has cancelled all elections and shut down any news channel critical of him. Zalesky is an authoritarian and one party totalitarian state. The mypia from blind ukraine supports irks me. They proclaim that ukraine is something that it never was. It was never a liberal state.

[@denisveladzic1241]

Like many others in comments, I was looking for argumentative counter theses to Mearsheimer. But ...The self-liking presenter provides no solid arguments, falls far short of the level of clarity, argumentation, and factual support typically found in Mearsheimer's work. The only thing it possesses, which Mearsheimer does not, is arrogance.

[@FredricoLalo]

I just turned the sound down and read the comments...much more educational.

[@КлимТаин]

"Ukrain is bargain. They do the fighting. They do the dying"- Nial Ferguson

[@w.a.victorlipien6348]

Hi Niaĺl, For you is like religion. Your persistent denial that NATO expansion is the primely reason for the war is like putting your head in the sand but I do understand this. Is like trying to convert Protestant to Catholicism or vice versa. Totally frutile..

[@nachnamevorhanden3335]

nah nobody cared when the polish people decided that they dont want to be annexed by russia anymore. Nobody complained with the czech people, with the east germans, with the slovaks and the hungarians. Even the baltica were all free to join EU and NATO. Free nations made free decisions, but with ukraine it is different? why? The US have a direct borderr with russia. How come this never was a problem?

[@JonWilde2105]

@@nachnamevorhanden3335It was always a problem for Russia. Everyone in NATO understood NATO expansion was extremely provocative, but they knew Russia was too weak between 1997 and 2008. Now Russia has recovered its strength, and the US has stupidly tied its prestige to the defence of countries whose foreign policy is best summarised as “ start a war with Russia”

[@garytaylor4990]

Ferguson has this uncanny ability to use bunch of words and no say anything.

[@darrellbryant1018]

I'm glad I read the comments before watching the whole video. 7 mins in, I'm out. ✌️

[@maq6144]

I made 11 mins 40 seconds

[@tomnowak2997]

I can't follow whatever point the speaker is trying to make here - I tapped out 28 minutes in.

[@Vicky-Blue]

I came to see John. What a waste of my time.

[@BiggusDiggusable]

Didn't you read the title?

[@vova47]

The same.....😖

[@vova47]

@@BiggusDiggusable Did you? Rebuttal doesn't mean that the person making the first argument isn't present.

[@Swiplys]

Niall Ferguson truly is a fool

[@jonlittle5032]

Labeling Vietnam and Iraq as 'quagmires' trivializes the strategic intent and consequences of those 'quagmires'.

[@dublintvcontent2023]

Fergie is actually a BLUFFER and BALONEY artist Clever PR and marketing guy but full of ignorant and pretentious delusions. Wrong about so much it is comical.

[@johnl5316]

excellent

[@sunhoushi1]

Mearsheimer, like Chomsky and Sachs, have compelling ideas that justify the term public Intellectuals. Ferguson lacks so may of their qualities that after (reluctantly) sitting through this presentation to the end, I was left feeling that my time had been wasted. Resistance beats acceptance? I don't think so. And what a - as a fellow scot - pompous, self-satisfied, self-indulgence reading of his script, that was!

[@colinmacdonald5732]

Chomsky? Are you serious?

[@darreneriksen]

This talk is a good example of what happens to your brain after decades of neoliberal cocktail parties.

[@felipefrutoramirezsj5342]

Mearsheirmer is the realist. NATO has been warned many times before not to expand to the former Soviet Republics, but it ignored the warning. Moreover, NATO underestimated the strength of Russia militarily and economically.

[@TheWhitehiker]

Russia is weak--obviously!

[@786Plotinus]

CIS- invite Mearsheimer on to respond to Ferguson.

[@Northrnsnow]

Mearsheimer is a Russian hack. Bought and paid for. Not one thought based on fact

[@bad209]

no point - theres nothing to respond to. nial is a nobody. his been been a nobody for years. thats what happens when your a fake intellectual - your views dont stand up through the test of time. you go through a moment of obscruity and then vanish into nothing.

[@michaelmertens813]

Silly mouthpiece.

[@marquardtfrickert3939]

Such a warmongerer... I like John Mearsheimer much better, he talks more boring, but he seems to be rational. Niall: if someone tries to talk emotionally, it's because his arguments aren't as good and he tries to sell something.

[@MarkSyropoulo]

Ferguson lives in the Anglosphere. Unlike Mearsheimer they don't know the ground is shifting beneath them. Mearsheimer is in another league.

[@RadioTiberio]

Underrated analysis

[@AndyRRR0791]

So it turns out that Niall is not a useful idiot but is actually just a CIA shill

[@786Plotinus]

Isnt there anyone better than him to respond?????

[@andinosa]

Ferguson is jealous that Mearsheimer is more successful. But this is natural, because Mearsheimer truly speaks his mind and is honesty while Ferguson is always pushing a narrative to suit his establishment bosses. It's not enough to know a lot. You also need to be honest Nail. Hope you learn that lesson.

[@999reader]

“Every American newspaper is an appendage of the Democratic Party. “ The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Examiner, the New York post, etc. etc. Why does such a learned man talk nonsense? For me, this is a classic example of motivated reasoning. In layman’s terms, perhaps it could just be called prejudice or bias.

[@Gregory-kv8vj]

The listed newspapers fit that description. It is quite ironic that he quotes from them to make his case in other contexts. It is noteworthy that many Democrats view these organs as sympathetic to the Republicans, against all the evidence to the contrary.

[@999reader]

Would love to see Gregory’s evidence, but it doesn’t exist!

[@janjangz]

Not only Zelenskyy shouldn't have given up his day time job as a comedian, but also never to have dabble in politics. similarly Niall shouldn't give up his day time job as an economist, but also never to babble anything politic, especially geopolitic.

[@salmivec]

Niall fails to address Israel’s alleged war crimes and the findings of the world’s highest court, which declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land illegal, confirmed its operation of an apartheid system, and the plausibility of a genocide. As usual, Niall omits key facts to support his worldview, one rooted in the dominance of the Western military-industrial complex rather than in peaceful methods like trade, tariffs, business, and investment. His ideas will hasten Western decline and do little to foster a balanced global order. He has been a mouthpiece for war mongers for years - the less attention he gets the better for everyone quite frankly.

[@seamust1181]

Ferguson is a dinosaur, still bitter the Brirish Empire was eaten by USA. Btw, the background noise on this audio is ridiculous.

[@willsims6748]

He is trapped in history and learned all the wrong lessons.

[@miabrandt1926]

"wes Brot ich ess, des Lied ich sing" ... "whose bread I eat, whose song I sing"

[@hamidhamidi3134]

Him mimicking others is actually quite childish, which doesn't substitute for serious thinking at all.

[@dmfitzsim]

The comments saved me 42 minutes and 37 seconds of my life. Think I’ll spend them listening to another Mearshimer discussion instead.

[@thomasfarrow7053]

*He cites Bill Burns on China, but neglects to mention back in 2008 as Ambassador to Russia in a letter [made public by Wikileaks] warned the Bush/Cheney admin that Russia would view further eastward NATO expansion, especially the Ukraine, as a potential military threat.*

[@andrejboskovic4867]

Rally? How comes Russia has no problem wit Finland and Sweden being a NATO members?

[@scottbuchanan9426]

@@andrejboskovic4867 I don't think it's true that Russia has no problem with Finland and Sweden being in NATO. More likely, Moscow recognises that it can't do much about it, having miscalculated in relation to the consequences of its invasion of Ukraine. We should also consider the psychological significance of Ukraine within the Russian political elite. It's a neuralgic issue for people across the political spectrum in Russia ("from knuckle-draggers in the dark recesses of the Kremlin, to Putin's sharpest liberal critics", as then-Ambassador Burns stated in his memo to the Bush Administration in 2008). Nothing comparable exists with regard to Finland and Sweden.

[@andrejboskovic4867]

@@scottbuchanan9426 I totally agree with you .One can only conclude that Russia started a war against Ukraine because of a fix idea that Ukraine somehow belongs to them and that is not really a country at all, not to mention sovereignty .From all the Russian actions perpetuated over the years against Ukraine it is clear that only hope for Ukrainians was on time become a NATO member.