Conversations with History: John Mearsheimer

On this episode of Conversations with History, author and University of Chicago professor John J. Mearsheimer joins UC Berkeley's Harry Kreisler to discuss the Realist theory of international relations and its implications for understanding the U.S. role in the world, future relations with China, and our response to the terrorist threat. [11/2002] [Show ID: 6808]
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[@izil1fe]

One of the greatest global geo political thinkers / historians of our time. I have the utmost respect for this man.

[@amoonpoint]

He really had a crystal ball, didn't he? In actuality he did not fall for propaganda that is presented to the masses and distilled government behavior down to their true motivations. He was absolutely correct in the conclusions and these are holding true all the way through 2022.

[@908Dannyboy]

Because it is easy to assume our involvement caused the issue or aggravated it in hindsight. Inaction is never measured in the consequences when it comes to his calculus. What if Saddam was able to invade Kuwait and neighbors and commit more humanitarian disasters? Sure, America could not have been involved, but then the Professor would not have anything to talk about. He sure likes to be critical, even cynical, of American intervention and values, but offers no solutions. He is just a theorist.

[@MithradatesVIEupator]

@@908Dannyboy He's officered plenty of solutions lol.. not sure what you've been watching.

[@TheTruckinDuck]

​@@908Dannyboy .,

[@diego91zanetti]

His predictions about Russia-China and Russia-US relations (44:30) just didn't come true.

[@pabis6817]

50:54 He’s so unbelievably full of sh*te! For 75 years Palestinians have said they do NOT want a state of their own! They want to kill all the Jews and make Palestine a Muslim caliphate! So no they aren’t begging for a their own state or they would have agreed to one the last 7 times they were offered one! Don’t even get me started on his ridiculous CGTN, kowtowing he does for the CCP communist or the insane mental gymnastics he tries to do to blame Russia’s criminal invasion and annexation of Ukrainian sovereign territory on US backed NATO “expansion”!!?? NATO was basically going extinct until Putin started killing Europeans and talking like Hitler about the “Russian speaking people in the Donbas”. Mersheimer is a nut job! Of course college kids and ME muslim brotherhood Pan Arabist (Palestinians) Russians vatniks and Chinese Wumao’s love him ! Because can twist recent history to form a narrative that somehow always blames the United States for ALL the worlds problems.

[@khaan5109]

It was amazing to watch and listen the prof. 15 years ago

[@amirtawfik7495]

How come he was so credible in everything he said even from that long ago. Incredible Brilliant Professor…

[@mandocool]

Listening to this now is more relevant than ever

[@jrm21386]

I love being able to sit back, relax, listen, and take in the concepts without the strain that reading puts on my eyes. Thank you for posting these videos UCtelevision.

[@smirhash]

Great conversation. Prof Mearsheimer is a great realist, seeing international relation as it is, without ideological glass.

[@naturerules7176]

Bro please listen to his latest lectures in which he is convincing us on good and bad lies giving clean chit to Bush junior Iraq crimes. They are all state agents modulating it's image except very few. Nationalism prevails over reality and justice.

[@mambi_anonymous]

April 20, 2022. Professor Mearshimer is more necessary with each passing day. The rethorical question is: why it is that we are never exposed to his thinking in most of the media?...🤔

[@jasimmalik8078]

Idealists have set imaginations of how the world works and don't want that bubble popped. Realism while being more rational, doesn't play to people's hopes and dreams. Both can be true, Utopias are real, but short lived, and Global Utopia is realistically far from anyone's lifetime, and even a Perfect Utopia eventually comes to an end.

[@ABDULLAHKHAN-wl5we]

The scholarly work of Professor John Mershiemer is of high value and very much relevant to the present day international politics.

[@vivianoosthuizen8990]

Making friends and not enemies is common sense

[@salmanhyder1655]

The best. Thanks Prof. Mearsheimer

[@ketanmehta9662]

Just wow!..I could listen to this everyday and everyhour.. I mean these guys look so student freindly and extremely willing to take on questions unlike my Professor..

[@steveH384]

crazy how much has changed in just a few years

[@alliesteamc3546]

Very helpful for understanding, thank you!

[@elshazlio]

It’s fascinating to see how the professor’s views have remained consistent for so long.

[@giongetachew6795]

Thank u for a depth analysis. wish U.S leaders listen to u. The world will be a better place.

[@karlxu1548]

54:35 Nice explanation of how to maintain a constantly refreshed world view.

[@KhattakSpeaks]

One of the best videos i ever watched on the internet

[@stephenehlers]

Dude just exudes integrity and intellect. We desperately need more thinkers like this.

[@user-ck6or5mu8m]

Damn he is good! 20 years passed and some of his estimations so true!

[@williamhubel4643]

Incredibly courageous to have been making these statements in the wake of 9-11. Everything he has been saying for years is completely self-consistent and has integrity

[@kifayatkhankhan8099]

Wonderful talks

[@hostostoa5472]

I love John Measheimer

[@paulpopescu2757]

29:39 "we should all be very skeptical of what our leaders say".

[@hiprichhiprich]

Mr. Mearsheimer is an amazing human being.

[@chrisocony]

Good stuff, thanks UC

[@Hammer332]

18 years on from the original air date, Mearsheimer's analysis was mostly spot on - particularly regarding the War on Terrorism. Bush would've done well to heed his advice instead of embarking on the lunacy that was the Iraq War.

[@stevensica89]

Yep, except that Bush was in thrall to all the war-mongering Neo-Conservatives mongering war on the behalf of Israel.

[@themsmloveswar3985]

Bush decided nothing. Cheney's puppet. Cheney made stupid decisions.

[@pitolove3846]

ANYTIME Mr. Mearsheimer is speaking...whether an Old video or Recent...I'm there!! 22 yrs ago & still very applicable today.

[@800_k_7]

I find the universe and life to be so complex that is beyond understanding. Life passed by so quickly that the human race must work together to avoid conflicts and war!

[@dandiacal]

I really agree with Mearsheimer and I wish that people who fall into the usual categories like socialists, anarchists, libertarian, right wing conservatives and so on, would come out of their ossified frames and get interested in ideas that transcend such categories.

[@dangdutnusantara5980]

Thank very much

[@Nicer2BNice]

He’s been exactly correct with everything he’s had to say.

[@indikamudalige8682]

Wow.Great explanation! 14 years ago. This is called Realism.

[@rogerclemis4380]

Its says 2002 in the discription so 21 years ago

[@grahampetrie1922]

Brilliant George

[@footballcasm27]

Have learnt a lot from u sir, and will be dreamt to sit by your side one day.

[@alexanderchenf1]

As a man of loyalty and integrity, Prof Mearsheimer was right then and has been right ever since. Liberal imperialism (self-righteousness) of America has created endless miseries both abroad and domestic.

[@bukomomazuri902]

If you want to know the truth about the wars in the Middle East, you should read his work.

[@coreycox2345]

Thank you for the recommendation, Bokomo Mazuri.

[@cubanmark]

I personally think realism comes closest in explaining the world order or chaos than all other theories, specially the defensive realism. i just wanted to have a say lol but this video was great thanks for the great work of sharing.

[@ascenethgutierrez6611]

beautiful

[@typicalKAMBlover21]

14 years ago, this guy predicted everything...

[@pjeremilysnowprendi2484]

Yeah… especially the coalition of the USA and Russia to counterbalance the raise of China. 😂😂😂

[@hiprichhiprich]

I totally agree.

[@TheBrownie1582]

yeah!

[@aldeq0]

2021, many of the things that this profesor said are being fulfilled... o.0

[@user-nx6ji9tk8i]

Pretty hard to read it now…. March 2022

[@RileyRampant]

JM was dead-on on predicting the outcome of GW1, and his warnings concerning the soon-to-come GW2 (at the time of this interview). the guy just seems to be, without a lot of fanfare or smugness or egotism, the smartest in our collective room. he, moreover, has the courage to speak plainly about our irrational policies respecting Israel, where that state is headed, nay-sayers notwithstanding - his predictive record speaks for itself.

[@harish.s6237]

excellent

[@sidstorch2615]

He really blew the big question: “What advice would you give to students as to how they should prepare for the future?” The answer, of course, is that they should avoid the (essentially Nixonian) temptation to focus on issues of foreign policy and instead concern themselves with domestic issues. The story of the 21st century in America is how media and other policy makers are making it impossible for all but the most fortunate to live a civilized middle class life. It simply won’t matter what happens in great power relations if non-HYPS folks, have no work beyond pouring coffee, or if they have to cower in their apartments to avoid violence dusky types who’ve been exempted from the criminal law.

[@mustbtrouble]

Love this guy. Shittin on the neoliberal foreign policy establishment. Why is his expert opinion never invited on network news? If not working in our state department .

[@jhmyr]

I just found out that there are typed versions of these interviews - ahh! Just google the title of the video and there should be a result from globetrotter/berkley.

[@Nuyann]

Leaders probably follow their perceived self-interest. Perceived yes, as it is influenced by their norms and ideas on the world. So yeah, I disagree with Maersheimer, but do think his perspective is a very useful as a perspective on the world and it explains a lot of why the world is at is.

[@clovisra]

I agree with J. M. Because my coutry is a victim of the imperial deep state of the USA.

[@jalllaaavg]

Yes and their self interest is staying in power. I don’t see the disagreement?

[@johns.7297]

No 11 Bravo for Mearsheimer! Smart!

[@Z31414]

All great models have things to teach us about reality, and all models are wrong! Mearsheimer is correct, realism fails when the assumption that states are the primary agent. With the explosion of individual power on the international plane, transnational corporate entities, global non-government organisations, and structural changes at the international level, realism needs to be augmented with new models.

[@RileyRampant]

excellent point. this would include, most pertinantly, energized empowered factions within the polity of any state. that is yet another aggregation which acts much as state within a state. think of your own examples, there are more than one or two in the US, certainly.

[@tikkunolam613]

Can you imagine what an example it would set for the world if we were able to find a way to live in peace in Israel/Palestine? All the pieces of the puzzle are there: a shared monotheistic tradition, a shared land, and shared interests.We are closer to actualizing this than most people realize.Peace is in the best interest of all parties involved...it is a non-zero sum game.May G-d bless us with the wisdom to see clearly that peace is a matter of creating the conditions for mutual prosperity

[@Fahmbo]

Academic of the highest order.

[@AmanuelBekele-rg2ii]

Cool!

[@MWSARSCA]

If University of California is at Berkeley, then what is UCLA?

[@RileyRampant]

Berkeley is across the bay from SF, north of Oakland. as the oldest (I believe) land grant university in the UC system, it enjoys that name.

[@fernandostaejak3705]

Well this have aged beautifully.

[@akeleven]

Nobody wants to question whether "power" is solely based on military might? Nobody wants to argue that economic power might enter into the equation?

[@ashleyevans1141]

what was the third school of realist... human nature; defensive ; ???

[@MitgliedT5]

offensive

[@freyrbjornsson6452]

Anyone who mentions ´The will to power´ gets a like from me.

[@ralphbernhard1757]

Terrorism is an effect, not a cause. Terrorists are always an organized group. Not to be confused with anarchists (loosely organized). Go to the cause, solve it, and that "strain" of terrorism will weaken and disappear.

[@KRYPTOS_K5]

Analysis of this video today? He suggested that a coalition between the USA and Russia will be fostered due to China and Russia rivalry. And other errors. Affer discarding his mistaken advice on terrorism, all the Mearshmeimer assumptions were half a truly prophecy about China and the related international political frame. Considering his 50% efficacious prediction 21 years ago, I believe he has a good performance (despite far from to be perfect). Brasil

[@bass1bone]

"And we also sometimes run into evidence that contradicts the theories we have in our head." Failure. That's (most often, anyway) failure. And oh, the suffering we experience when we run smack dab into that wall of evidence saying, "Nope, wrong again!".

[@marioalpizar]

Good

[@TheStooge92]

If states are like black boxes and all act the same, why does the US tolerate the UK and France having nuclear weapons yet North Korea and Iran have sanctions imposed on them?

[@CONTACTLIGHTTOMMY]

The same reason you can have a Glock, but your mentally ill neighbor can't.

[@davidkey4272]

It still surprises me how many people don't think Realism is plausible. To me it seems uncontroversial and obvious.

[@brunoparis20nation]

He thought about a Russia China immigration abs boarder dispute where Americans would help Russians against China …

[@yoe676]

Mearsheimer is such a babe! I may actually pass my exams now!!

[@eth_saver]

The host is so good, compared to the trash we havenow

[@maverick7919]

Taking into account norms and ideas is a Constructivist view of International Relations. Realists, like Mearsheimer, don't place much value of norms or ideas in their theory.

[@RileyRampant]

those considerations certainly do apply, from time to time, in the sociopolitcal culture of states (popular acceptance for gulf war II, the korean conflict, unique closeness to the state of Israel). at least, its not like the elites can simply effect power politics without a bit of grooming of the populace.

[@paulmicks7097]

Exactly , militaries don't like putting their soldiers into combat for political or economic reasons... in days gone by. Those military leaders have retired, a newer breed of top command that is completely intertwined with the weapon corporations, John McCain was one of the first of these then bored himself into the congress and sat there for 40 yrs. doling out trillions, thank god gone now but Lindsey Graham and Timmy Kane were there to pick up the baton.

[@arbiterveritatis1063]

he simply didn't anticipate Neocon ideological intoxication after the dissolution of the SU.

[@NineInchTyrone]

The truth lesson seems to be tossed out upon leaving the Point

[@yungpoptartt]

14 years...

[@neoneherefrom5836]

ok…

[@RoseAdam-ho4xq]

Smart man

[@gardylavertu3928]

China and Russia are weak ? How things have changed !

[@Xmagneto11]

He predicted USA policy on China 16 years ago 👏👏👏

[@eleanorwagner7981]

OMG!

[@cliffgaither]

"Rhetorical Changes". He's very diplomatic ... maybe too much ...

[@hassanrajput9576]

16:41

[@hassanrajput9576]

13:13

[@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.

[@hcspero]

If the US stopped using terrorist groups to fight proxy wars it might just help but he can’t quite bring himself to discuss this

[@vivianoosthuizen8990]

Can see where SARS2 came from now

[@tygge2000]

The reason for the lack of aggression from Japan, Germany, Great Britain, Korea, France and Russia is not american armies in the region. I find this argument weak!

[@RileyRampant]

then propose a better one. the only examples of aggressor states are those not dominated, culturally or esp. militarily, by the US. NK, as restive client of PRC, may be in this way of thinking a bit of a cat's paw, or alternatively a demonstration of PRC's weakness as a hegemon.

[@cptinferno]

Offensive; this is the theory Mearsheimer himself believes in.

[@kulturfreund6631]

His name is pronounced „Maers-heimer“, not „Maersh-eimer“. It’s astounding, not even Americans with German roots, pay regard to that.

[@user-nx6ji9tk8i]

Listen to the man himself - the ‘sshush’ pronunciation was there…..’sheimer’. Language evolves. Brits reverse the ‘ie’ dipthongs, UK and US exchange the vowels…. Context evolves. We don,t introduce this debate as being between a Jew and a German. What we fail to learn is how to maintain peace and prevent all out war again. YT threw this up for me. Disappointing.

[@kulturfreund6631]

​@@user-nx6ji9tk8i There is this joke in German for people whose surname is "Hirsch". You introduce yourself with: "Meine Name ist "Hirsch". " or "Ich heiße "Hirsch"." or with an impetus " "Hirsch" , heiße ich ! " . The latter when quickly spoke like "Hier scheiße ich." , which means "Here I shit." : )

[@user-nx6ji9tk8i]

@@kulturfreund6631 ha ha. Decades again I lived in Germany with two small boys - we English learnt scheisse very quickly! Many good memories of our time there. And a great pronunciation help to sing sublime Bach correctly in the years that followed! Now - we,re completely off topic, but thanks for the memories.

[@MithradatesVIEupator]

Meer-Shy-Mer

[@considerthis7712]

2022. Interview 20 years before. @ 44 min. US - Russian relations won’t be as bad in next 20 years. That was wrong. It was bad from 2014 re Crimea annexation.

[@themsmloveswar3985]

In the aftermath of September 11th, it was entirely rational to assume that Zbigniew Brzyzinski was finished as an influence in policy making. His legacy was smouldering in downtown Manhattan. But ZB did re-emerge as an influence, under Obama. In fact he gor completely rehabilitated.

[@heaven7360]

he didn't like the military but wanted to go to Vietnam? I don't understand.

[@jalllaaavg]

Maybe he had his reasons and maybe they were foolish. This of course greatly upset the power dynamic of the Mearsheimer household and appropriate measures were taken.

[@levasim2969]

ឲ្យ

[@jhmyr]

Haha! Me too. UNG?

[@user-nx6ji9tk8i]

Not sure this sheds any light on where we are now, other than war begets war. Absolutely misses any debate on NATO. No peer competitors in Europe eh? Just deleted my lengthy comments as I fear we will never learn.

[@jalllaaavg]

John Mearsheimer talks about what i think you seek in this video: The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities | SOAS University of London

[@user-nx6ji9tk8i]

@@jalllaaavg Thanks for the info. I was looking for a recognition that trust can be broken on both sides in that long ago broken NATO agreement. Truth and trust need daylight too. But ‘liberalism’ in US and UK not the same animal. Not from a UK perspective with deep routes into Europe. I grew up with those classic refs on my parents bookshelves. Yet we see things differently with our own particular history & repercussions.

[@jalllaaavg]

@@user-nx6ji9tk8i I see what you say between the lines. And I understand the situation. True peace can only be established when both sides have a full understanding of their situation and history. A sense of betrayal is a powerful thing, but in my case I choose forgiveness.

[@jparsit]

It should be One World government without border and nationality. Open border people free to work and live anywhere they are plesed. Balance of power never happen if people divide with nationalty, races and classes.

[@jalllaaavg]

How much suffering are you willing to inflict to realize that goal?

[@fannychang2907]

NWO

[@ludan8984]

Precise prediction. Russia, China, Taiwan.

[@ResidualSelfImage]

I disagree the structure is a factor that creates the state. I disagree that structure triggers the abuse of power. I do agree states seek sustainable self preservation and that there is a tendency towards regional hegemony. I believe culture/language/social norms create a state (what is fair and agreeable amongst peoples) . For example, language and culture of the Vietnamese people create the state of Vietnam and make it unsustainable to be a vassal state of the Chinese Empire. The CCP effort to keep XiangJing as part of a mono ethnic culture of the Han state of China therefore requires China to re educate the Uyghur people in the Same way a White European culture dominated USA attempted to Americanize by re education Native American Indians Children into Western culture. Racial discrimination and apartheid make resistance to mono ethnic states natural and war /physical resistance the likely outcome. With respect to social norms dividing states, Religious difference divided Pakistan and India. Religious differenced divided the Middle East. Only a state that embraces multiple languages, multiple religions, and or multiple culture can exist as a state that bridges between different culture (e.g. Switzerland ) I believe the abuse of power is due to the uncheck concentrate of military-economic power. Defeat in war being the final check for military power. Financial ruin the final check for economic power. As in all things involving power - Military Command structure aka hierarchy - limits how, when, what, where, and why of any challenge to any idea because all ideas that are put forth in the military have a power structure associated to it. The structural avenues / pathways for dissent and for a fair and open access to compete among other idea is always limited - much of it depends on the humility and wisdom of the leaders and people in power - there is no real replacement for wise, good and capable leadership... the structure of legal framework provided by laws have no meaning without law enforcement and the sustain commitment to uphold the law... .law enforcement has no meaning without the follow through of a court system that seeks justice for those involved - ... and judicial system needs brute oppressive force when there is no political system that is responsive and connected to those they govern ... see Collapse! by Jared Diamond and Governing the Commons by Elinor Ostrom and Defensible Spaces Concept by Oscar Newman....Critical Race Theory is about how racial discrimination can be systemic in the legal system - and can generate racial oppression ... for example the USA Naturalization Act of 1790, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Oppressed groups are dehumanized as a social norm before they are legally oppressed in the legal/political structure so you see this dehumanization process in mass media, public education/academia, and political speeches/rallies first before the real oppression become codified into law as apartheid caste system.

[@wyz9815]

get your fact right first! you just buy into the lies created by Anglo-Saxon media, if your facts are wrong in the first place, no matter how sound your logic is, your conclusion are all faulse! the best way to spell way MSM brainwashing is collection facts first hand by your own eyes to see what is really happening on the ground, rather then echoing narratives or drama stories of other people know nothing about the subject. Go go to Xinjiang, actually not just Xinjiang, but all other regions where minority groups lives in China, like Tibet, Yunan, Inner Mongolia, or go to all regions where all 56 minority people live, to see how their culture,language, custom, religions and way of living are respects and preserved, or all your talking are nonsense.

[@MitgliedT5]

But you should not relie on on theoretical perspective to view the world... if you do that, it good end in and self fulfilling prophecy

[@pauleohl]

41:00 The future is impossible to know as Mearsheimer demonstrates with his totally wrong predictions about China and Russia.

[@CsondesMateHUN]

He just didn't think the West will be so stupid that they keep feeding the beast in China. He said it in a recent video, that this was a huge mistake from the West.

[@charlesedwards4160]

The enemy of liberal hegemony, go boy go. :)

[@matthewbudlong9813]

This guy is not fo real hahahahahaha

[@thiccboi5011]

He's been saying the same thing since forever lol

[@lantao19]

Why is he a Putin apologist?

[@Matt-pt6rl]

That sounds like a label you’d like to put on someone who presents his own arguments and theories very adeptly but with whom you disagree. What response could be lamer than yours?

[@hovstacoolianz2197]

Because you didn't like that he's saying the fact that you are the suckers of this world

[@tonysargent3852]

This guy is delusional