Prof John Mearsheimer - US Foreign Policy under President Biden

In his address to the IIEA, Professor Mearsheimer discusses the foreign policy agenda of the President Biden administration. He shares his insights on the likely continuities as well as differences between the Biden administration’s policies and the policies pursued by President Trump over the past four years.
About the Speaker:
John J. Mearsheimer is the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago, where he has taught since 1982. He graduated from West Point (1970), has a PhD in political science from Cornell University (1981), and has written extensively about security issues and international politics. Among his six books, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001, 2014) won the Joseph Lepgold Book Prize; and The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy (with Stephen M. Walt, 2007), made the New York Times bestseller list. His latest book is The Great Delusion: Liberal Ideals and International Realities (2018), which won the 2019 Best Book of the Year Award from the Valdai Discussion Conference, Moscow. In 2020, he won the James Madison Award, which is given once every three years by the American Political Science Association to “an American political scientist who has made a distinguished scholarly contribution to political science.”
Recorded on the 17th of November 2020

[@JayPatel12928]

I'm watching his videos in Feb 2022. What a man, it feels like he carries a time travel machine with him.

[@strechinpick]

He gets it, been saying this for years. They need to listen to him,

[@redsbluesdontwalkinmyshoes7604]

except that the Biden administrations not having kid gloves with either china or Russia. I was just thinking the opposite, and he actually got it wrong. I think he might agree...his admiration for Kissinger gives me pause. However he is saying lots of good things. Its a complex world for sure...

[@diratoba]

He was mostly right except for pulling out of Afghanistan and (hopefully) the Iran nuclear deal

[@ursulastaempfli759]

@@diratoba He is also wrong on the relations to European countries. The US administration treats their "allies", and particularly Germany, like shit. We have enough of the machinations of the US in Europe. We don't need to be protected by the US and Nato. On the contrary the constant war mongering of the US is a threat to the safety of our people. I know many Europeans and Germans want to get rid of the US. Maybe people in the Biden administration like European countries, but the way they treat their interests, shows a different picture. And guess what? We don't like the US at all. We have a deep disdain for everything USAmerican.

[@diratoba]

@@ursulastaempfli759 agree. Americans don’t want to be “protecting” the UE either and also agree that we don’t “protect” countries out of kindness it’s about our interests which is having countries not aligned to enemy countries like Russia and China. But Germany is no different they only care about their free trading and don’t give a damn about other EU countries. Also, while UK, France and Germany may not need that much protection smaller EU countries certainly do and we know Germany, France (and maybe even UK) went step in and defend other EU countries without NATO and the US. Without NATO Putin would move as far as the Germany/Italy border

[@muhlisdoster138]

Thank you Professor Mearsheimer, you are rare left impartial intellectual. I just wish you were amongst the policy makers in the US.

[@char63r517]

I wish he were as impartial as you imply

[@brandonbrook9664]

@@char63r517 No, you don't. Your "wish" is only that Prof. Mearsheimers concise conclusions would be those of your own opinion.

[@char63r517]

​@@brandonbrook9664 no, I only want the Prof. to be more open and aware of his biases, and be more comprehensive in defining how they influence his conclusions. Otherwise, it damaging to his credibility to those who recognize it. He either has: 1 A good reason for his bias. 2 Is bending facts to support this bias. 3 Is unaware of it. When he disregards the first, he leads us to assume it's the second or third. My own opinions are irrelevant.

[@muhlisdoster138]

I think professor is an impartial intellectual, simply because: a) his explanations based on real politics and chronological data which makes easy to understand, " what caused this war" b)since the beginning of this bloody war, a foolish perception has been created by the US and EU, which led people not to able to justify the "right &wrong". As an international business person traveling and spending so much time in Russia and Ukraine, one is definitely not better then another if we are talking about not the people of these countries but as dynamics of societies, both have many common illnesses in terms of corruption, structure of governmental organisation, lack of democracy etc, For the one who is interested can search how Mr Zelensky became president.

[@timmytide1]

Muhlist...John isn't a leftist.

[@donaldgeorge3717]

Voting by mail is crazy

[@jennaleaf8256]

Your statement is crazy!

[@elnorton7113]

Mearsheimer is totally for ordinary American people. Not spending money to MIC but to medicare and public education. Yes, he cares American working people more than billionaires.

[@jennaleaf8256]

Fact flipper?

[@robhaythorne4464]

Opponents of Biden don't need to deligitimize him. He does it to himself every day.

[@anniegrace7896]

Someone this intelligent and well-read speaks future possibilities that seem to overlap with the prophetic.

[@emilv.3693]

Europe not only lacks the military capability to engage in a conflict with China, but also lacks the reasons to engage China. Europe sees China mainly as a valuable trading partner and will try to avoid antagonizing China as much possible with the US watching over Europe... Likewise, China also sees Europe as a valuable trading partner and seeks to avoid antagonizing Europe as much possible, knowing that in some cases Europe's hand will be forced by the United States. We can see this in noticing that the trade corridor that China is building through the belt and road initiative *leads to Europe.* This shows us that China sees Europe as the "other" major economic powerhouse in Afro-eurasia, and thus sees it as a major trading partner for the foreseeable future. . Therefore, Europe should avoid making China an enemy as much as possible while remaining on the good side of America. It's a delicate balancing act.

[@sz8670]

but the US propaganda machine will demonize China and make sure average Europeans somehow believe that China is a big threat to their daily lives, and use the public pressure to make European politicians act as lapdogs for US foreign policy goals

[@Ludo045]

The problem is the US. In all your description, the US is the one causing problem.

[@enricanorelli6528]

Gli USA devono lasciare in pace il mondo e togliere le grinfie che hanno messo sull'Europa. Stanno fomentando un'altra guerra, ma io spero che la prossima si svolga sul territorio americano, per far provare loro la sofferenza e la devastazione che ogni volta causano alle altre popolazioni.

[@timmytide1]

NATO is Europe's military machine at the moment. The expansion of NATO and the expansion of the European union are hand in hand.

[@NimbleStretch]

at minute 2:36, "and he brings the same old, same old advisors with him," of course A. Blinken is one of these characters--intellectually bankrupt. Stephen Walt at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs gives a complementary speech to this remark (available on tube-the-you), pointing out how there's no accountability in DC's foreign policy elite when intellectual bankruptcy occurs, yet Walt is at pains as to how to correct the situation without petrifying leadership (in Ancient Athens, you goofed up in war, might as well go to Sparta, as Alcibiades did, instead of letting the Athenians decide your fate). Mearsheimer refers to the Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu only once in his work ("The Great Delusion"), and he actually mischaracterizes what Bourdieu means by 'habitus.' Nonetheless, I think the answer to Walt resides in Bourdieu regarding accountability: that is, how would you hold, say, a bankrupt Blinken politically accountable (remember, Antony is well-ensconced in the DC blob)? Have the universities take away his degrees, and in this way Blinken's seeming ontological birthright to go make horrid errors on the world stage in foreign affairs with impunity gets corrected with velvet gloves instead of a heavy hand. Read Blinken's wiki bio, he helped orchestrate two decades of ineptitude in foreign policy and now runs the DoS as an election prize? Yet, he looks good, he seems academically well-coiffed, so of course at heart (ontologically) it's not 'him' per se, he was just dealing with the "real world," is the excuse made for him. On the contrary, the theories which swam around in his mind helped to create the behemoth China, whose claim to that giant aircraft carrier called Taiwan is going to make flotsam of the US in the next couple generations if there's a war. You think hyper-nationalistic China won't treat Taiwan like Stalin did Stalingrad? Let Blinken keep his BA, but take away all his other degrees just as a university would disown an MBA graduate committing egregious fraud. By making that decision, it keeps the intellectually bankrupt out of policy-making.

[@dragonfly1929]

GREAT UNDERSTANDING .

[@RoeserFan1]

Blinken's father was blob too. Met him with congressional delegation when he was ambo to Belgium. I was not impressed. Also worked on Sen. Foreign Relations Committee when Jr. came in as Biden's Chief of Staff. Even less impressed.

[@clari-net6133]

This guy speaks the truth…. I’ve listen to many of his videos with some being eye-opening.

[@lolawalsh9187]

Watching this again. Foreign policy. Contracts for cronies and political families. Trump threw a wrench in works for both parties. You hit the nail on head. Follow the money.

[@JungleJim156]

The biggest question is whether Biden is up for the job. His past foreign policy decisions have been disastrous. Everything he touched fell apart. Now we're seeing more of the same.

[@ClownWhisper]

By no means a fan of Joe Biden but I'm a less of a fan of hyperbolic statements with zero examples backing up an opinion. What has Joe Biden implemented that has fallen apart?.

[@shuffman8094]

Is he up for the job? I think there’s evidence of a resounding ‘no’. He may not agree with Trump. But our globe was at peace.

[@bunhonghay535]

@@ClownWhisper everything he touched has been falling a part. He is dumb and he is a war crime and he should be brought to the ICC

[@netzoned]

@@ClownWhisper The coup against the -U- know who -A- in 2014! Before you start calling troll, lying, and falsely reporting me*, which pretty much everyone does, look up: *"...we brokered a deal to transition power in Ukraine." *FYI: That's bannable according to YT TOS.

[@netzoned]

Well, in this tiny thread, one other poster and I have been shadow-banned.

[@shuffman8094]

I’m curious how he feels after 1.5 years since he gave this talk. I respect him immensely. But, Trump’s policies kept us and the world relatively at peace. Biden is a catastrophe on every front.

[@stevensilverberg605]

Events happen by themselfs, biden didn't cause the war in Ukraine and any good trump did was by luck. Herbert hoover in frustration said ' presidents get credit when the sun shines and blame for a rainy day'. So if you think trump did anything good( I don't) just remember really both didn't do good things or bad things events beyond anyone human happen and if it seems good to you than your guy gets the credit. The opposite is also true.

[@shuffman8094]

@@stevensilverberg605 I disagree. Let’s use Title 42 for example. That shapes illegal immigration. And with the possibility of 6 million illegal immigrants to come thru in the next year - that’s nation changing. The use of executive orders directs our nation, bipassing congress. Stopping the keystone pipeline contributed to our fuel costs. Along with several other regulations lead us and the globe into a crisis. With Ukraine/Russia, imposing sanctions, arming nations shapes international relationships and will contribute to a world famine. He stated that our military had to be ‘injected’ or be removed. (At one point they were threatened with jail). This is resulting in perhaps a 20% decrease in military from high ranking, seals, to privates. I can post a lot more. But I hope you can see how a potus directs the nation. The use of executive orders is being used more and more over. I noticed the increase started with Obama. Trump used them a lot. I think otherwise he’d never get anything done with the Democrat opposition. I still think it should not be used so often.

[@tienvannetten4514]

Thanx hufter

[@2639theboss]

Trumps policies kept us at peace? There was a Russian build up under his power. If your goal is isolationism, sure, Trump was successful, but id prefer to not return to the failed policies from 1910 based on an orange man getting offended. Its also incorrect to blame democrats for anything under trump. Republicans had full control of both houses, the supreme court, and the presidency for two years. If that isnt enough to be productive and pass your laws, then your own caucus is a problem.

[@nate5995]

This talk didn't age well haha

[@esklappert]

Mr. Mearsheimer ist der Meister. Always watching his lectures. Brilliant analysis always. Should be basic for everyone in geopolitics. Thanks for sharing 🙏🏼

[@thomaslang7616]

Sprichst du Deutsch?

[@traceydempsey7709]

Yes I agree, I'm new to listening to Mr Mearsheimer.... My eyes are now open

[@mrjonno]

Erm?

[@GH-oi2jf]

Prof. Mearsheimer, in his opening statement, picks one issue - foreign policy - to interpret the transition from President Obama, to Trump, to Biden. This is simplistic, but understandable because foreign policy is his main thing.

[@GreenishSloth]

He has a knack for identifying complex issues and drawing generally valid conclusions. I wish the foreign policy establishment paid more attention to him back in the 1990s, when he raised the alarm about China. Western stupidity and corporate greed bright us all here, having created a powerful dictatorship capable of threatening the world's democracies in a way that the USSR was never economically able to. Unfortunately, Germany, France and others in Europe still continue down this path, for short-term economic gain.

[@collinsjean2422]

If you’re talking about China they’re not a threat to the world democracy.

[@punyashloka4946]

World democracies oh please you Americans have created biggest massacres in countries like Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan and so on. USA has one of the most dictatorship allies like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Uae etc 🙄 and lecturing world about democracy bloody hypocrites.

[@doginu]

I wish we could bring that same pressure against Biden that Trump had to endure. It's kind of hard when Social Media and the News Media act as a mouth piece for the White House.

[@DarkShroom]

Trump was a reckless popularist and he got that preassure because he made so many enemies ... that's his problem.... if you rise to the top by treading on another group, don't be suprised when you have a civil rebellion at the polls his forumla is only works for one term thank god, now many older republicans want their party back

[@doginu]

@@DarkShroom Trump won the vote of the people without support of his party. He was a danger to the status quo. That civil rebellion is coming. Biden, the half of him that's left, is a failure.

[@noblumoon]

I wonder if he still has a positive view ofBiden's administration. Even brilliant people can be wrong.

[@tonysu8860]

Positive view? Except for better relationships with allies (getting rid of the completely unnecessary Trump antagonizing others), the Biden foreign policy has been mostly a clone and extension of Trump foreign policy... Avoidance of wars, bringing the troops home, nationalism over globalism (note despite plenty of lip service, there has been practically no action undoing or fixing the trade agreements made under Trump). Maybe not so much a change in action but there have been a change in diplomatic relationships with Mideast countries, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Since for the most part Biden foreign policy hasn't changed from Trump's and Prof Mearsheimer and Trump share a worldview, I don't know if there is an especially positive or negative view of Biden's foreign policy, only that he's happy that things haven't changed much.

[@eodico]

He was right about the Biden admin being pro-europe and anti-russia. They keep escalating this damn war, all they had to do was mediate with Russia and insure that none of its bordering states will be allowed into Nato.

[@ShinyDee1303]

always so insightful Professor Mearsheimer, really do worry about the US future - as with all hegemons in history, internal problems are just as much of an existential threat as external problems..

[@JonROlsen]

We have a powerful internal security network.

[@tommyodonovan3883]

*"Better one thousand enemies outside the city gates than one traitor within it."* -Cicero

[@elizabethrobb8620]

All empires fall from within my friend. Exactly as America is in free fall now

[@tommyodonovan3883]

@@elizabethrobb8620 The USA is the strongest country on earth we threw onto the trashheep on history 1st the English Empire then the French, Spanish, Prussian, German & USSR....Now China wants to dance.

[@mililani6037]

@@tommyodonovan3883 disUnited States of a = Divided States of "freaking" a

[@Canada-1958]

Thank you Professor Mearsheimer for refreshing and inspiring analysis always.

[@moradkhan8945]

I absolutely agree with you, Sir.

[@moradkhan8945]

@Logos Learner I absolutely agree with Professor John J. Mearsheimer because his arguments are clear, rational, and based on facts. For instance, he argues that in 2016, Donald Trump ran not only against the Democrats but also the Republicans because he was hired from outside. Trump is a very unusual character. Joe Biden may bring the same people who worked under the Barack Obama Administration. The American public were dissatisfied with the American foreign policy. In foreign policy, both the Democrats and the Republicans were more or less the same. But they significantly differed in domestic issues. Due to disinformation regarding election manipulation in 2016, the Democrats did not want to welcome Trump as a legitimate President during the last four years. When Biden was elected in 2020, the Republicans found this as a payback time. Mearsheimer has two explicit predictions or observation on Biden Administration. First, Today, not Europe, but East Asia is the most important area in the current world because China is a potential competitor of the US. There is no daylight between the two parties in the US. Everybody in the US perceives that China has to be contained. Biden will strengthen its relations with the US allies, such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, in East Asia to deal with the rising China. We know that the Trump Administration damaged the relations with its allies across the world. The US needs help or cooperation from its allies in Asia and Europe as well to contain China. Professor Mearsheimer believes that the Biden Administration will do that. The second thing, Mearsheimer believes, that the economic war between the US and China would continue, but it would be less heavy handed and more thoughtful manner.

[@moradkhan8945]

Thank you for the question.

[@moradkhan8945]

@Logos Learner At least, it is clear that you have listened to Professor John Mearsheimer attentively. If you do not agree with him, please let us know why???

[@iam1smiley1]

His speeches on Ukraine are good but he didn't foresee how badly Biden would fumble!

[@petrova553]

I recently discovered the wonderful Professor due to the Ukraine War and have become somewhat obsessed however felt he disappointed this time round. He gave Trump a D grade on FP in one of his videos but having any kind of faith in Biden/Harris blows my mind unless he believes it's all up to the advisors. He never mentioned the Abraham Accords which was huge. I'm also confused as to why he believes the Iran deal was a good one, all it did was fill their coffers

[@huwprice3975]

I like his talk im doing a eassay on world politics it helps me

[@Snowalker12]

This is the true scholar.

[@bookerslawn]

Thank you very much!

[@AZ12105]

interesting as always mearsheimer

[@Bigjoe99]

The problem is the relationship with its allies was not good enough even before Trump and the damage now is in so many places and all of them critical and urgent, it will take a herculian multi-front effort not just to built them but to build them fast enough and enhanced them far enough to avoid a crises or irreparable damage. The odds of success offered by Blinken's ideas are low.

[@lutherblissett9070]

But those allies desperately want the relationship to be fixed, they don't want the responsibility of taking care of themselves. So the relationships will be fixed quickly. Trump just made it difficult to publicly be close to America. Trump winning again would have been good for the EU especially, as they would have to face up to their internal issues. Now they can kick the can down the road once more. Which they just love to do.

[@yurigansmith]

The Germans are super happy with Biden in charge. The Trump years were a kind of "withdrawal of affection" for many German politicians, at least those from the in general fundamentally pro-transatlantic political mainstream - which is everything except for the AfD (right fringe) and 'Die Linke' (left fringe). Hence, the "damage" caused by Trump is swiftly forgiven and forgotten.

[@tommyodonovan3883]

John won't say it but he thinks that China's CCP will eat our lunch. Because the CCP wants it more than US, combined with our social unrest, 6000 mile supply line.... *"The gang that can't shoot straight"* -John Mearshheimer re: USA Foreign policy aka the *"Blob"* post 1991.

[@DarkShroom]

always this implication from Americans that they are the only country in the world with an army but who called on NATOs article 5 after the twin towers? if you're so powerful that we apparently rely on your whoely for our security why didn't you deal with them wars on your own? this sounds like Trump rhetoric... the REAL damage clearly is that you believe the rubbish he said

[@StrongbyLee]

Will a war in Ukraine help unify the West? 😂

[@FI32690]

Excellent.

[@31527Joe]

His point of view is based on interests of United States. However Washington would never listen to his advices because Washington has been controlled by industrial Military Complex for decades.

[@tommyodonovan3883]

Little wonder why the DS Blob hates John Mearshheimer's guts.

[@yurigansmith]

He's absolutely right about the importance of Asian allies - they are the crucial component, not Europe. And especially the younger generation of Asians want nothing more than becoming part of Western civilization, hence loyal support is nearly guaranteed and - how did he call it? - "respect" not really necessary. The West can only win.

[@tonysu8860]

And I disagree with Prof Mearsheimer's idea that Asia and Europe are that inseparable regarding policy. Today, I think that the EU is China's #1 customer, not the US anymore. There are strong economic ties that bind China and Europe which can make any restraint of China to be less likely with EU cooperation.

[@mr.cosmos5199]

If Americans know how to show Asians ( or any other) REAL respect, the world would have been much better.

[@LeMerch]

Trump ruined European view on the US. So much so that it’s probably sped up a far more unified EU. Not sure what the Asians will do but it’s looking like the US’s influence is waining.

[@gold9994]

@@LeMerch And in Southeast Asia, the damage is beyond broken. It's just not that good anymore (and to some extent Japan too). They've become too reliant on other asian countries.

[@rdf098311]

Earn it

[@terrywong7879]

The points and issues for America today really is America itself. A country's self respect is an important projection to the world who you are before declaring a foreign policy. If you can not display cohesiveness in your powerful country who are you kidding. America can not project power when you are failing at home.

[@zzzguyzzz2073]

I just saw his 2015 video at the UC about Ukraine, NATO and the EU. . Now I am busy searching for anything I can about Mearsheimer. He needs to be more around. Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum are our two parties of government. Not sure which is the elephant and which is the jacka…er, donkey. Would like to hear more from Mr. Mearsheimer on covid and current Ukraine War.

[@AKH-cq1tq]

Million cheers 🌹🙏💯 for John Mearsheimer 💯💯💯👏👏👏

[@dingyipu9372]

There are ten pots here, but we only have five lids.

[@jimjones8736]

16:57 'It's going to be very hard for us to pull out of [Afghanistan]'. And yet, less than a year later that happened...

[@rodrigolima1413]

Nailed it.

[@demonridera]

Basically, we are the Masters and we don't like anyone who is not under our thumb. The rant is about how to align the puppets to get after those who are not

[@cbskwkdnslwhanznamdm2849]

That’s just a basic truism about literally all states. Get over it. As far as some moral claim about the US, fortunately an overwhelming majority of international affairs between the US and other countries are voluntary and win wins. Thanks to being ‘under the thumb’ of America, South Korea can prosper, Japan doesn’t need to build nukes, international waters can be traversed peacefully, Eastern Europe has protected sovereignty from Russia, on and on.

[@demonridera]

@@cbskwkdnslwhanznamdm2849 You nuke civilians in Japan, shaft them by the Plaza Accord, destroy Toshiba when it comes a strong competitor and call yourselves saviours ? You need to be high to believe such drivel. The Japanese play along as they are an exporting nation and it suits them. They and others have no doubts that coloured skin is cheaper and more expendable than pristine white

[@flowerpower8722]

@@demonridera You forgot the bit where Japan committed atrocities throughout the south pacific first and attacked the US first. Nuking them was the only way to stop the carnage.

[@demonridera]

@@flowerpower8722 You are wrong on so many counts that a response is an unearned reward. But the murder of innocent civilians by the hundreds of thousands justified by you is beyond evil. Maybe some day the logic will apply in reverse. People like you are so deranged that wiping out human life on earth seems like a favor to the planet

[@mikeygee7]

That is, in fact, the point of geopolitics!

[@krunoslavregvar477]

Hmmm... I am not so sure about last issue.

[@mgronich948]

His prediction on what Biden's admin will do is spot on. But the economic containment of China is not going as well with regard to Europe. Germany and France still want to trade with China. The dual use comment is not relevant, depending on the politics everything is dual use or nothing is dual use. The US is placing more sanctions on Chinese companies every week. But US businesses in Hong Kong are complaining it only hurts US businesses. Decoupling is happening but very slowly. Is it too slow to matter? But what happens if decoupling hurts the US economy more than the Chinese economy and just accelerates the pace of China becomming the biggest economy? Would Mearsheimer then advocate a military conflict?

[@LeMerch]

China practically relies on other highly populated regions with larger proportions if middle class & high consumption rates. It’s economic model requires Chinese expansionism but it’s soft power and approach to set the framework for this globally is awful. So awful that many counties find it almost impossible to choose China over the US even though China can offer far more economically. Europe is caught in the middle with its growing middle class, increasing consumer base and its ability to trade freely. There are already some countries pushing back - Lithuania, the UK and France have all had issues with Chinese investment and policy. I can’t see China wooing the EU/Europeans much more than they are now, because China sucks at soft power and the US has it in abundance. There will certainly be a shift and it will most likely be away from China and a more unified outlook with the US.

[@gdaqian]

Problem is Biden is as clueless as he appears.

[@gregwong2132]

So is Trump but he had good people working under him.

[@darbyheavey406]

Biden will not get tough with China. JM is completely wrong. Hong Kong is gone, the Wuhan Virus is rampant, and the Russians will ally with China. The smart move would be to play Russia against China.

[@Scott020357]

@@darbyheavey406 Tried already......

[@mrfrost6337]

excellent

[@leanderbarreto6523]

At the very least Trump didn't start any new wars

[@albertopiergiorgi5980]

He was too stupid to.

[@TheArtonSlo]

@@albertopiergiorgi5980 Yeah cause for creating a war you need a lot more brains than preventing one. At some point you people will have to realize the huge problems JM is talking about were and still are mainly created by you. You constantly push tribalism over unity whether it's your, Russian, Europe or Asian politics. All the 80% of people you call your enemies and far-right are just normal center people that want peace, but you and your lack of thinking for yourself or learning are the only things keeping us away from this. You caused Chinese problem, you caused Balkans problem, you caused Russia problem.

[@ethanwilliams5844]

Well he did go and bomb an Iranian military General who was beloved by hos countrymen. He did go and say Jerusalem was the capital of Israel which caused again alot of issues. He might not have started a war but they could've potentially been one

[@gdaqian]

Spot on as only JM can!

[@fireofenergy]

This guy seriously underestimates putin. Other than that, he seems to know what's going on, unbiasedly with respect to the two bickering US parties.

[@NN94887]

No he don't , but actually he predicted it 8 years ago extactly what's going on. Watch his lecture on why Ukraine crisis is western fault at chicago University in 2014. If Ukraine president would watched his lecture then this situation would have never happened

[@jimhofer8496]

@@NN94887 Except the Ukraine President cares about freedom and sovereignty, not what some "scholar" thinks things. Reviewing his speech 8 years ago shows these guys is full of himself.

[@NN94887]

@@jimhofer8496 yes and he should cares about himself and should maintain his friendship to his strongest neighbour who can alone save him from rest of the world when needed and should not fall in western or any nato nata propoganda in any situation. And it's proved as the country who provoked him is the first one to release his statement to step back even before war.

[@NN94887]

@@jimhofer8496 and that's what this guy said as when they needed west , they are the first one to step back which is just proved as they don't have anything to gain from Ukraine but only wanted to use it against Russia as a tool, about which they have given pre warning many times.

[@jimhofer8496]

@@NN94887 sell your idea elsewhere...facts show differently

[@arniewillis6265]

What are your thoughts on Ukraine NATO and Russia now as apposed to your 2015 speech.

[@mikaelafrias7786]

They never change regardless if it' democrat or republican. Nothing will ever change

[@tommyodonovan3883]

Trump proved that, for all Trump's hot air, what did he end up doing, he beat Hillary, that was it, a one term loser. I'm an independent voter, there's not a dimes worth of difference between the Republicans and the Democrats....aka the *"Neolibracon one party duopoly "*

[@teestraight4781]

Well, I suppose even the brilliant ones can be wrong. In retrospect, the good professor's predictions were almost all wrong. Seems he expected the Biden administration to be relatively competent.

[@hansi5908]

Exactly they are causing a big mess everywhere🤣🤣🤣

[@gambu4810]

I agree that the real difference between the two parties is in domestic politics, not on foreign politics. Look at the war waged in Ukraine. This is why Donald Trump is so important for America and for the world.

[@ninav7083]

Brilliant man

[@jcjordache]

Clear understanding of the International Politics

[@Rudy62]

What about the influence of parties that are not tied to one country or controlled by the politicians, like Wall street and the banksters and investment/hedge funds, multinationals, the CIA and FBI, the WEF, etcetera??

[@dekkerfraser]

Tough putting Humpty Dumpty together again

[@CorporateDrone]

Legend

[@globalistatistik1489]

king of the IR

[@gregobern6084]

May the best same old win, inflate my expectations

[@hnoytrv9787]

European Union Treaty Organization (“EUTO”)?

[@kobeclan8558]

Thank you for your explansiion, Hopefully US can heal from the damage and keep strong forever

[@gdaqian]

Real war inside of America, Professor?

[@michelegosse7116]

the intro until - 2' 50 should be a motto and intro for every opponent of the bipartisan swamp. 18' - BAD news on Europe...

[@KenRubenstein]

this man is an extreme badass...

[@steffenandersensahl9443]

I like this guy, but US elections are not won or lost based on foreign policy.

[@vlera8447]

Exactly right

[@StrongbyLee]

It can be if you say, "it's time for the US to stop being used as the global police and our boys and girls are getting killed on foreign soil. It's time for other countries to stop freeloading off of the US and pay their fair share. It's time for us to focus on US." Blah, blah, blah. That's what they heard.

[@chosk80]

They doubled down on the economical trade war. And they disrespected ASEAN. The US did try to pull Japan and South Korea together and it is mildly successful . That being said cracks are showing now that the Japanese are pouring the Nuclear waste into the sea. They managed to get Philippines back on track somehow. So John wasn't entirely correct on this , but he is still a Legend.

[@hailiangcao8555]

one thing to comment here: in spite of all the talk, do Germany and France really care if US troops continue to stay in Europe? The current Russia simply does not have enough power to threat Europe militarily, at least not in a conventional war.

[@mathewdaniels2640]

A genius at work.

[@JonROlsen]

Yes, The fine line between genius and psycopathy.

[@markjapan4062]

WHO

[@fourtoes412]

Wishful thinking on Mearsheimer's behalf when it comes to his prediction about Biden's foreign policy, nevertheless I enjoyed listening to John's thoughts, from 2020.

[@hansi5908]

I do not agree to reinforce the Asia allies we should focus on our continent to bring all the jobs to our continent and make our continent the best and the strongest

[@djkurtz92]

I love this guy. My only question is, if Trump had intelligence that Iran was not keeping up their end of the bargain, was the move to pull out of the Iran deal still foolish?

[@StrongbyLee]

My guess is the Israel had something to do with it.

[@thereignofthezero225]

Wrong on difficulty getting out of the middle east. It was a disaster but they pulled out

[@whoever7553]

Being a decent person

[@evagerber4037]

Listen to you gives me the impression that you still believe that the USA is and will be a great power for leading in this world. I can't see this anymore. But you can still start to give Germany it's freedom back.

[@matthewjackson9615]

His predictions here are coming true right now. I would also add that the polarization of politics in the US will have continued unpleasant domestic social ramifications. Do I want to stay and endure it ? Trump did try like hell to back the US out of long standing losing wars in the middle east. Nobody appreciates this though.

[@dorabastable7028]

The very essence of political parties is that there should be "polarization", otherwise, what is the point? It's unfortunate that people, especially in the US, have been brainwashed into thinking that bipartisan is bad. For example, if there wasn't polarization between pro and anti-slavery in the US, slavery would have continued. Re: Trump's involvement in the Middle East; aside from him trying to get US troops out of the area, that pales in his support for Israel, his withholding humanitarian aid from Palestine, and the acceleration of selling weapons to Saudi Arabia and other despotic, theocratic dictators in the ME.

[@SC-uq2jf]

John J. Mearsheimer, your scholastic presentations in such venues as Yale etc....2014 through 2018 stated that Russia had no intentions of invading The Ukraine. Where are your updated videos since you got it so horribly wrong Mr. Mearsheimer, sir.

[@TheLockon00]

Thought he said Russia wouldn't conquer and occupy Ukraine. He did say Russia would be willing to virtually destroy the country.

[@pucs82]

@@TheLockon00 doesn’t seem virtual now. Quite physical.

[@TheLockon00]

@@pucs82 kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5m1ZoyEpqpmgZo

[@DK-gl3ih]

Lol

[@badlaamaurukehu]

Ireland has only 5 million ppl?

[@dinoyuan1574]

Hail USA

[@allencollins6031]

Comments?

[@TheArdildo]

The footage, which MailOnline is not publishing, shows a group of men wearing Russian camouflage pinning a soldier in Ukrainian fatigues down and using a box-cutting knife to remove his genitals and then hold them up to the camera. It is unclear exactly when or where the footage was taken, but some of the Russian soldiers who appear in it were filmed on the frontlines in Donbas back in June.

[@aa2339]

The IJA used to shove that into their mouths. The mouths of the castrated.

[@drpenrose]

A year later and the smug grin is icing on the wrong about almost everything cake.

[@ireneusz3233]

Anyone who knows the Russians has probably heard similar stories about their homeland. That the Americans are plotting, the "collective West" is aggressive, that Moscow just needs to defend itself somehow. Even the attack on Ukraine is explained by the necessity of taking care of security. On February 20, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke in a similar way about his country: We remind you that Russia has never attacked anyone in its history. And Russia, which has survived so many wars, is the last country in Europe that even wants to say the word "war" Russian propaganda, and the Soviet one before that, told its people the same. A peaceful nation, a fight for peace, a desire for nuclear disarmament, arming only in fear of external aggression. Bad NATO bases in Poland, bad NATO enlargement, it's terrible to think that Ukraine is joining the European Union - all against a helpless Russia surrounded on all sides. And conspiracies - the world continues to persuade itself to follow the idyllic Slavs around Moscow. Jews plot, Americans plot, Poles are very intrigued (until they became negative heroes of one of the national holidays) - today, before the war, and in the 19th century, so peaceful thanks to several European empires. The Jesuits also conspired - until they entered folk proverbs. In his old age, Aleksander Solzhenitsyn saw Jewish conspiracies in the communist project - it was not Russians, but Jews, also other nations, that were tormenting peaceful compatriots - Russians. From this sense of hurt that Russian culture tends to its recipients, a desire for revenge is born. Just as the social margins and the losers in life blame the rest of the world for their failures, Russia, in its poverty and internal disasters, takes its peculiarly understood justice from rape and robbery. Just like the last degenerates, who have nothing to lose, rationalize their cruelty and bestiality, those who supported the Bolsheviks in 1917, feeling that "their time has finally come", because they will finally make up for their unjust failures and fortunes, so all of Russia in the course of history it became a failed project of civilization.

[@thecount1001]

bingo. sounds like you feel Kotkin provides greater insight into the world than JM....

[@RacingS2000]

Well this aged like fresh milk in the sun

[@JohnSmith-oe5kx]

Good God. I have been impressed by Prof. Mearsheimer, but the JCPOA is foolish in the extreme. Makes me doubt his judgment generally.

[@stevensilverberg605]

Seems like reasonable comments till you listen to prior talks going back to 2015 about the u.s. visa vie Russia. He was really really wrong about NATO expansion and about putin and putins ambitions. Based upon his track record I would say his prognostications are bound to be wrong.

[@thetruthhurts9750]

Very insightful analysis and very correct except for the Afghanistan withdrawal. By the way, the jury is no longer out on Biden. Most allies see Biden as weak and incompetent. He doesn't inspire confidence which is actually worse than Trump's toxicity.

[@giovanna722]

Nothing's worse than Trump's toxicity. Watch the insurrection on Washington again. I'm a Canadian and was mortified that such a volatile narcissist was in charge of the most powerful country in the world.

[@thetruthhurts9750]

@@giovanna722 I'm an American and I was mortified as well. But you must understand that Biden is deteriorating mentally and it's obvious to see. That doesn't inspire confidence. By the way 2 things. I love Canada. I've been to Toronto and it felt like I was still in America. Second. Trump might actually become president again. He still has political rallies but the media doesn't show them. There has been recent polls showing Trump would beat Biden today. So be very afraid.

[@will27ns]

I would ask just one question: do you think the CCP is going to take Biden seriously for one minute? How about 30 seconds?

[@spartakos3178]

No

[@mintcake2668]

Yes? From China's point of view, Biden is much more dangerous than Trump. Biden strengthens ties with India and Australia in a way Trump could never hope to; and he at least acknowledges the existence of SEA countries, unlike Trump who pretty much pushed them to China. Even Japan had a few good years with China when Trump was president. Japan! Think about that! Trump has a real knack of alienating American allies. Since the US is not an Asian country, it needs its Asian allies for any potential conflict with China, and Trump simply doesn't get it.

[@spartakos3178]

@@mintcake2668 Biden doesn't even have a fracking pulse buddy.... His corpse handlers are also busy literally turning America into China

[@UinAZ]

@@mintcake2668 Oh my gosh, are you on something? Alzheimer patient Joe needs to be in a home or prison for his and his son’s corruption.

[@flowerpower8722]

That guy from down under - real respectful. 😁

[@awf6554]

Indeed. Mind you Trump's dealing with the Australian PM were hardly any better.

[@flowerpower8722]

@@awf6554 Initially, but when Morrison was elected he was invited for a State Dinner with all the bells and whistles. So that was nice.

[@awf6554]

@@flowerpower8722 True, and I'm sure if the PM visited the US now it would be similar.

[@awf6554]

@@flowerpower8722 It shows Australia is a pretty small fish. After watching a lot of seminars on China and the US, I reckon unless China hits an economic crisis point, Australia is pretty fucked, especially with the current defence posture. Our politicians are as muddle headed as the US, and we're far more vulnerable to Chinese meddling.

[@flowerpower8722]

@@awf6554 We are small fish, have a live and let live attitude, but are fully aware that others don't share that attitude. So we work with what we've got I guess.

[@JohnSmith-oe5kx]

Does Prof. Mearsheimer seriously believe that re-entering the JCPOA constitutes "doing something" about Iran's nuclear capabilities??? It is a pathway to nuclear power, which is why Iran was desperate for it, and why Israel (and Trump) were opposed.

[@spartakos3178]

The biggest difference between Trump and Biden .... Trump has a palpable pulse.

[@paul6925]

He wasn't wrong so far. He didn't mention Afghanistan though.

[@k00lkidz4]

The pullout didn't happen yet

[@rdf098311]

Uh, he was right on some, wrong on some.

[@darbyheavey406]

John is an economic child- he was a Bernie Bro. Advocating for a socialist proves that expertise in one area does not necessarily translate into another. Huge debt in the US will not translate into improvements in US power.

[@Gunni1972]

And how is that connected to socialism? Maybe the fact, that the biggest treasury debt holder of the USA was China? So basically, the value of the US currency relied on chinas Willingness to invest into US-produce? Fun story bringing Sanders into the discussion. If he had a socialist party the polarity between Democrats and Republicans couldn't be strong enough to split the country into strictly two camps.

[@mariojr.mabutas6741]

I observe, and i think every person in history up to the future subconsciously knows, "where" realists are really coming from (And i observe this is what the likes of mearsheimer don't really realize). If you and they really think deeply about it, they (realists) are actually really coming from the LACK OF COURAGE,... to be IDEALISTS.... (and they, realists, justify it - realism - with all kinds of "acrobatic" reasoning). Most of them voice out their realpolitik viewpoints in the safety of their privileged circumstances - like Nicollo Machiavelli himself. (That's why he, mearsheimer, always say, not verbatim: "I'm very happy I'm living in (the most powerful) liberal democratic country - which ironically is a product of idealism, ...but when it comes to international relations...- he's a realist) His and his et al's IR Old World 19th century Machiavellian realpolitik viewpoint... ...actually HAS to die,... ... WE, THE REST OF THE HUMAN RACE ALL KNOW IT IN OUR HEARTS IT HAS TO DIE, "YESTERDAY", hundreds, even thousands of years ago... ... And I think deep inside his (mearsheimer et al's) heart he knows it. But like all (socio) realists, he doesn't have the COURAGE to admit it...because he doesn't have the courage to BE against it (PREVAILING human CONSTRUCTED reality)... And his realist thinking is greatly influenced by his privileged personal situation: a legal citizen of the most powerful nation in the world, and all the privileges and personal SAFETY, it entails. What differentiates a realist from an idealist? COURAGE and Empathy for the rest of YOUR human race. Courage to DESIRE, ENVISION AND USE YOUR GREAT MIND, to PERPETUALLY make things better than what they are, than JUST cowardly accept the social constructs that our physical/biological/historical reality socially CONSTRUCTED for us. Clue: if it's constructed, it can be DE-constructed or changed.

[@taiwanbirdman]

I agree with his view points but Professor has way over-estimated Branon's capability.

[@johnwhitehurst474]

Way over rated the Fool Biden. We hated both parties enough to Elect Trump, four years of lies to get him out, and we get the same stupid's in Dc running things again. We may have to do Trump again in 2024 with majority i n houses to make it stick we are tired of the same bull shit. Biden is a walking FUCK UP PERIOD! Biden lead make me sick. Under Biden see Ukraine, so will China, who wins is the question.

[@timgibson3754]

Name me one thing in this conversation that you didn't already know.

[@nate5995]

This talk didn't age well as much as I admire the speaker. Our allies don't trust as at all at this point.

[@salvor1]

I can't understand how I can agree with everything you say here but am enraged by everything you say in your 'Ukraine is the west's fault'.

[@snakeburrito2512]

No way will the States attack Iran. It would be 20 Afghanistans together!

[@mililani6037]

Print more USD , hihi disUnited States , Divided States of A just print money ... haha

[@mililani6037]

There are now more 'homeless' Americans than ever ...to attack Iran

[@rossitherhodie5659]

Thanks Prof, Love your chats and predictions most of which have become fact. Its now 2022 and what you said about Russias position on Ukraine was spot on. But just going back to your other lecture where you say US will go into Afganistan and then to Iraq and then Syria and the Iran. Float like a butterfly I think you said was what the Bush administration said to the Isrealies was going to happen. All these invassions by US forces was a waste of time and lives looking back. So they had a minor win by taking out OBL and Saddam H but in the end wtf happened. Suddenly theres huge repercutions as far as refugees are concerned everywhere, Biden pulls out of Afgansistan and ISIS WIN. (I must add that comments on this speach were removed by whoever thats why I'm asking and saying this here) Obviously the thruth hurt someone. I just wish someone listerned to you on your talk regarding Russia and Ukraine crisis. Its playing out now as was predicted for Russia to stop a threat on their border. The other thing I just wanted to ask and its been bugging me. Why did Biden leave Afgansistan and leave 86 billion dollars worth of weapons behind? Is it maybe because this was deliberate and they want these weapons close on hand in their quest against Russian when they invade Ukraine which they have now done. In so doing coming to an fake secret agreement with the talliban allowing them to take over power and in return provide them with hidden support from the west, but dont tell anyone please. Makes perfect sense to me in fathoming this out. Your views as nobody seems to comment here and maybe it needs to be exposed.

[@michelegosse7116]

no fuel? Taliban have always assured they care only for their country and won't mess up, especially put on a diet to starving..?

[@DD-um4dd]

i disagree with his anti-Trump comments.

[@aldofromsf]

There are three principles that define international law in the XXI century: sovereignty, territorial integrity, and freedom from foreign interference. Mearsheimer presents nothing but a Russian apology. The theory that Russia can use bordering countries as bricks to build a wall is preposterous. It demonstrates without a doubt that Russia is still the same imperialist country it has been throughout its 500 years old history.

[@StrongbyLee]

Wasn't this law established by Wilson, an American president? If so, that proves John's case that the strong write the rules of "law".

[@aldofromsf]

@@StrongbyLee Do you know anywhere in the world where the weak gets to write the rules of law? Your strawman is intellectually dishonest.

[@StrongbyLee]

@@aldofromsf so you don't believe realism is a real discipline and that it's "preposterous"? Tell me. Who came up with your "international laws"? Your jabs of "Putin apologist" are dumb and immature. It's shallow to think that any external criticism that matches an internal criticism automatically discredits the internal criticism, so it just becomes "apologist".

[@aldofromsf]

@@StrongbyLee Not everyone is capable to embrace civilized behavior. Clearly Russia is a throw back to the age of empires, and gets a well deserved contempt and isolation from the civilized world.

[@user-ur7pr1xd9h]

２０年前にムトウハップで狂牛病が治りますとイギリス領事館に電話でお伝えしたらロールス・ロイスに乗った奴に尾行された。

[@JonROlsen]

Oh God! Don't leave Europe Militarily! lol