Why is Ukraine the West's Fault? Featuring John Mearsheimer

UnCommon Core: The Causes and Consequences of the Ukraine Crisis
John J. Mearsheimer, the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor in Political Science and Co-director of the Program on International Security Policy at the University of Chicago, assesses the causes of the present Ukraine crisis, the best way to end it, and its consequences for all of the main actors. A key assumption is that in order to come up with the optimum plan for ending the crisis, it is essential to know what caused the crisis. Regarding the all-important question of causes, the key issue is whether Russia or the West bears primary responsibility.
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[Alaide Gio Mendes]

Amazing explanation........simple and clear.

[Repdo Derpo]

haha as simple as european politics get anyway

[Gunner Gunnhilt]

And totally not connected to reality.

[Troller]

@AK4 lmao, NATO expanded, it is a fact. And first act of Russia, that you might consider as aggression, started in 2008 (even then it is a debatable topic, which I will not talk about), long after NATO expanded. Before that Russia played by the rules, so please, stop with this populist crap.

[Pete F.]

I would never have watched this video when it first came out, but now that events are getting serious, I am so thankful I found this because now it makes sense why things are happening the way they are, and where we are headed, and it scares me because I feel there's nothing I personally can do about it.

[Pete F.]

@Ant Pictures I see, so the 3,000 troops is just to put on a pretty show. Now, I have always assumed Russia is very powerful, and that if we got in a full fledged war with them, that we would take collateral damage. However, I never would have though it would lead to our complete destruction. Only reason I think that is that even though we have nukes, and they have nukes, I always thought our military force was still an order of magnitude more powerful than theirs, so we could fend them off, even if they got away with taking out a city here, and a city there in our homeland. I have always thought of our weapons as being more technologically advanced, even though I am sure the Russians might not be too far behind. We've got to at least have a slight advantage there too? Or maybe you are right, they could devastate the whole country, but then their entire country would also be wiped out by us, so I don't know what the point of that would be because everyone loses. So maybe that's why we will never see a full scale attack of USA vs Russia. Hopefully I am gone before that happens, because I don't want to be around to see it. Also, Russia is HUGE they have a lot of land, and I feel like if they eventually took the entire Ukraine, the only reason they would do that, is so that Putin could say "see, I told you I would do it." Not because they truly give a crap about the Ukraine itself. It would be all about pride and power.

[Ant Pictures]

@Pete F. as you can see Swedish Fish didn't really answered your question. Throwing slogans around doesn't explain how 3000 US troops, stationed outside of Ukraine is going to help if Russia invades Ukraine. It is already have been overwhelmingly stated by US that US troops are not going to fight in Ukraine. So why send troops? Well first of all the had to do something to show their allies their support. Stationing a force which hardly could do anything to Russian army surely is not meant to engage Russians. US knows Russia is not attacking NATO. These troops are there to recon and protect US bases firmost. In case of Russian invasion they will swiftly retreat. And if Russia is not going to attack (which they said they are not going to do, and US actually expects them not to), then US will have a good pretext in media to say: "you see? Russia didn't attacked because we sent reinforcements to NATO allies. We held out part of the deal. Russian won't risk a war with US. The sad truth is that even if those 3000 souls were to die there in Europe, US would still not fight Russia because of that. Fighting a full fledged war with Russia would pose tremendous danger, which could lead to complete destruction of US. They won't risk that.

[Sleeping Insomiac]

@Random Name So your point is that since everybody telling about North Korea *could* be lying, wer should treat them as if they *are* lying? Wow, your debating skills are... astonishing!

[Alex G]

Excellent comprehensive analysis and Q&A session. The only parameter missing is the dollar hegemony vs. the search for an alternative currency supported by China, Russia and other states, who are fed up with the dollar endless printing detached from economic fundamentals, precious metals bashing, and US unilateral economy sanctions. Currencies wars is a big part of the geo-strategic rivalry today.

[Lidia Wolanskyj]

@David Burman Russia's behavior was predictable by all in 2015 and still is. it's the blame part of the equation that is wrong. Let's say a guy robs your house. You had a security system on but the thief disarmed it. Are you to blame for the theft? Really? We can all see that, in fact, the more the West and NATO has tried to accommodate Russia (e.e., France and Germany in 2008, but not the US), the more aggressive it has become. Now that the response has been considerably more robiust (not just 'deep concern' as in 2014), Putin is being more cautious. Appeals from academics and former officers, instead of being hushed, are being published. Seems like a convenient face-saving device when he does decide to back down. But for Ukraine, the only long-term security answer is membership in NATO. Whatever he may say (and he has threatened nuclear attacks remarkably frequently, including against Ukraine), Putin is not so far gone that he doesn't see the absurdly self-defeating reality of such an attack. Russia shouldn't be on the Security Council for that alone.

[David Burman]

@Lidia Wolanskyj "rightfully dropped" - Interesting comment considering the accuracy of his analysis from the perspective of the present situation

[Lidia Wolanskyj]

@Gary Lake No offense taken. But that's your opinion of his statement, not mine.

[Sleeping Insomiac]

Comparing a sovereign country joining a defensive pact with installing nukes at the border doesn't sound excellent, or comprehensive to me...

[the deeliciousplum]

Recently stumbled upon this talk. Prof John J. Mearsheimer's thoughts on Ukraine, on the West, and on the East are as relevant now as they were when this talk was given. A valuable and enlightening talk. Thank you for sharing this.

[oceanbnd]

Very interesting lecture. I’ve never heard of John Mearsheimer before this. Sounds like a wise man here. I wonder if he’d still be saying these same things now? I’d like to hear him now. He’s only 74 and I’m sure still with it enough for at least a discussion. Love to hear from him now.

[Artem Novikov]

@Peter Ashtar In May 2014 P. Poroshenko won the presidential elections in first tour, it means that he got more than 50% among all candidates (), the second place was only at 13%. How he was 'installed' if he literally won in the landslide?

[Artem Novikov]

@Peter Ashtar Are you aware that there were already 2 president elections and 2 parliament elections, and there is literally nobody in power in Ukraine today, who was in power in spring of 2014? Current government of Ukraine is the government based on elections of 2019.

[Andres Alva]

@Peter Ashtar I don't believe that and I hope you don't either. I guess we can agree on that point and leave it there. My final OPINION is that Ukraine and its people should decide on its own destiny and no one else.

[Peter Ashtar]

@Andres Alva everyone is posting their OPINIONS on youtube. The fallacy is believing yours is somehow worth more than any others.

[Elle Ren]

Thank you, excellent presentation! I am watching this video on February 5, 2022, 8 years after the fact. The history and present conditions, all make sense of what is happening in Ukraine, Russia, Europe and the United States. In addition, John made a statement that he gave China 10 to 15 years before we would say problems he’s right on target

[kean chin]

Just watching this now too. It is so sad that the US leaders are still doing what will lead to suffering in Ukraine for their own benefit. Very good presentation. Logical, sensible and very helpful.

[George P]

I wasn't watching but listened with my headphones while working around the house. When I saw it was the article was published in 2015 I couldn't believe it. I had the feeling it was posted if not yesterday, then not more a month ago. This man is a genius! Period.

[According to the Sokovian]

@Tigran Oganesian not only this but the US supports the political repression of all pro Russian candidates in Ukraine. Zelensky barely won ahead of the pro Russian opposition and then immediately froze all the political and personal assets of the opposition. And the US supports this fascist action

[According to the Sokovian]

@Blip bag it you sock puppet

[According to the Sokovian]

It's just logic but in the world we live in lacks it so entirely that it makes simple men that state facts seem like geniuses

[Алексей Косарчук]

It is very interesting to watch in 2022, knowing how events played out.

[Johnny Looi]

@Алексей Косарчук “i’d rather prefer everybody live as friends” ironic - this is the cornerstone of liberal international relations theory of which the West claims to be a champion, but they seemed to never consider Mearsheimer’s option that Ukraine be left alone as a neutral state utterly uninvolved with the US-Russia competition. Conventional liberal doctrine would suggest that this would be the best option to maximize international cooperation especially since China is becoming a threat and Russia was not too friendly towards China, but NATO expansionist tendencies have seemed to push Russia into Chinese arms, and heightened tensions where unnecessary. I admittedly do not know anything about domestic Ukrainian politics, but based off my somewhat nascent understanding of IR and security studies, this conflict seems to just have been a result of misperception - that of the West and NATO in thinking that increasing their soft and hard influence in Ukraine wouldn’t be that big of a deal in Putin’s government. Or maybe this is an issue of neo-imperialism in America trying to make Ukraine a pro-American state. Whatever the reason, I found Mearsheimer’s presentation very convincing, and Western actions in line with the historical trend of American neoimperialism, and I found your line about “dick fights between big men in power” a 100% accurate description of this conflict.

[ANDRE MOREIRA]

​@James Cache He hold a PhD -- Putin Honoris Doctor

[Elena Drachyovs]

@Alejandro Kato dont compare please USA with any other Europenian or Asian state. USA is mix of everything that doesnt have any spesific culture or language. Even Africab culture is richer than USA's. And none is going to separate NY from Texas or anything like that.

[mystic city]

@James Cache how so?

[Kathi M. A.]

I just came across this prescient video from 6 and 1/2 years ago. It is amazing that we're still having the same conversation and still making the same mistakes. Thank you Professor Mearsheimer. United States is a wonderful country, but we surely suck at trying to export liberal democracy and capitalism.

[joe k]

You seem to have exported also some well funded military dictatorships. In fact one of them was in the country that actually invented Democracy. 1967-1974 look it up.

[Peter Codner]

You will have no trouble with exporting it as you put it if there is a demand for it at a given price, but you are referring to religions, for what-you-call "capitalism" is undoubtedly a religion of sorts, while " liberal democracy" is, for all practical purposes is almost as meaningless as " capitalism"

[Mireya Jones]

No one is trying to "export" anything. They are focused on Hunger Games style exploitation of the periphery.

[D V]

My take away from this (about 40 minutes in while writing this) is that this was always going to happen, and was a matter of "when", not "if". Dire times ahead for this region.

[Wicked Guppy]

@GameNerdz That's a big subject which you should learn something about.

[Marc Goudreau]

As long as military strength remains the determining factor for the survival and prosperity of great nations, issues of accountability and responsibility for war are not important factors. Societies have survived the blood soaked consequences of such organizational dynamics for centuries but the nuclear age offers no such guarantees, something we've yet to learn.

[jay morgan]

but the nuclear age offers no such guarantees, something we've yet to learn oh but we have and america dropped two of them and continually threatens to use them to this day

[Robert Finn]

Prophetic! Thank you so much for such a clear, informative and insightful talk. I learnt a lot from it.

[William Nhamo]

'Conventional wisdom' is the easiest way to obtain information and it surely misleads. One really needs to understand issues on a fundamental level before simply believing 'conventional wisdom' Great lecture Prof John J. Mearsheimer!

[Jean-Pierre De Vent]

I am now a fan. It's refreshing that he is American and yet not like Chomsky, or even Sanders, a typical lefty. He seems more the reasonable center, which today probably has not much influence and appears left in the US.

[toshkris]

If you review lectures by other eminents, one frequently encounters contradictions after a period of say 5 years. But this Professor is consistent in his remarks with regards to events unfolding. I find him to be relatively intellectually honest as well, a rare trait in these times.

[Моя Лепта]

@Oliver Lorenzo Modern Ukraine is a puzzle assembled from territorial gifts made by Russian tsars, Lenin, Stalin and Khrushchev. The modern borders of Ukraine are the product of Soviet national-state construction carried out under the leadership of the Bolshevik Party. Until 1917, the term "Ukrainian people" was not in any encyclopedia, throughout the territory of Russia - Great, Small and White - Russians lived, having their own territorial, linguistic and everyday features. 1) In 1654, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich of Moscow allowed Hetman Bogdan Khmelnitsky and his Cossacks to become part of Russia. Now these lands make up two incomplete regions of Ukraine. 2) On April 8, 1783, Crimea came under the jurisdiction of the Russian Empire as a result of Russia's victory over the Turks in the Russo-Turkish war. 3) 1922 - Lenin was still alive, the territory of the Russian Donbass and Novorossiysk province with the city of Kharkov were transferred to Ukraine. We are talking about the Donetsk-Krivoy Rog basin and the northern Black Sea region. 4) 1939 - most of Western Ukraine became part of the Ukrainian SSR. ( Stalin ) 5) 1940, the northern part of Bukovina was transferred to the Soviet Union and became the Chernivtsi region of Ukraine. ( Stalin ) 6) According to the Soviet-Czechoslovak agreement of June 29, 1945, Transcarpathia became part of the Ukrainian SSR. Thus, the modern border of Ukraine with Slovakia and Hungary was established. By the way, after the war, the city of Lviv returned to Ukraine thanks to Stalin. 7) In 1954, Khrushchev took Crimea from Russia (Russian Soviet Socialist Republic) and gave it to Ukraine (Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic) . Gives the peninsula without a referendum, without the consent of the inhabitants of Crimea. That's how Crimea suddenly became Ukrainian.

[Ljilja Mitrović]

@Artem Bilous And what would be the flight of a plane above the war zone, and the attack illegal. Why was not any plane shot down outside the war zone. Well, not because they did not cause any suspicion because they are out of the zone of action. You shot down any plane in western Ukraine, and the war is being fought in eastern Ukraine. Of course not.

[Artem Bilous]

@Ljilja Mitrović what does it have to do with the illegal attack? Using Russian military equipment

[Ljilja Mitrović]

@Artem Bilous the greatest security is if civilian planes are not directed to the area above the war zone and amen

[Dana Ysol]

Thank you so much for sharing this lecture.

[exploiteddna]

good lecture with some good points, and certainly provides context for current events. At the same time, it would be interesting to hear a similar lecture from the majority of academics who dont agree with this guy (as he noted in the first half of the talk, he is in the minority with his opinions here)

[that broad]

Hmm. Those were the facts. And with him having what seems to be a clear insight into all that went on and where everybody stands, I reckon I’d actually like to hear from him again on this topic. See where he thinks this train will hit while our driver is slowly imploding. Creating havoc over there because of trouble at home, an older person’s quick temper, and the fact that the Dems seem to have chosen Putin as their big bad, are the aggravating factors just here in the states. Yes, I wish there were a way to reach out and ask!! (And just to cover it so I don’t get a dog pile, the GOP has put Xi in the Darth suit. In the scheme of things though, China Rising is an issue. For another time.

[Shiny Priest]

@XXX XXX what about cuba then. The weak don't have choosing power in the real world

[Shoumojit Banerjee]

An effortlessly brilliant exposition by the Dean of International Relations! Mr. Mearsheimer, whose 'Tragedy of Great Power Politics' and the 'Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy' are masterworks (and must-reads), is one of the splendidly provocative IR theorists at work, whose books force you to think hard.

[My ASS is HUUGE & thats an UNDERSTATEMENT]

So glad to find another Indian in these comments 🙋🏻, who is also aware about the power of Israel in the middle east, and the Israel lobby in US to sway the policies. Thanks for the recommendations.

[Kerry Summers]

I really enjoyed watching this. Logic and history come to a clear understanding of what is going on.

[nosuchthing8]

@Dodgson, we've got Dodgson here! no one in America bows before putin

[Sleeping Insomiac]

@48pluto Actually, I am old enough to remember the Soviet Union. But you being a 13yo Putin fanboy explains a lot. Good luck growing up...

[Asad Saleem]

This man better be alive because he's a legend

[Ron MacKinnon]

He's alive -- though unfortunately, one of the few other American scholars who shared his critique whom he mentioned during this talk, Stephen Cohen, passed away in 2020. Another voice of sanity who is sorely missed.

[Christopher Kuffel]

As an American living in Asia for the majority of my life, I often hear US congressmen speak on Asia. I cannot express my compete sense of bewilderment and horror when one of them gets on a soapbox and demonstrates profound ignorance of even the basics. I often puzzle whether it is true deep ignorance or they are speaking to a domestic audience so they need to appear ignorant. Perhaps they are playing game I do not understand, but starting from statements that are easily challenged creates another set of questions. The lack of any real understanding is often so remarkable that it perfectly aims them at some sort of geopolitical car crash without offering a map to a perceivable goal.

[Joshua Roland]

I know! I use this phrase all the time, even with people I know- "I don't know if they are strategically pretending to be stupid, or they are really that stupid" I know people do this.

[Desperatelyseekingrealnews]

@chaosXpert you think US bases are by invitation? You really are mad

[Desperatelyseekingrealnews]

@hard shell What did b&w jazz say , it appears to have disappeared,/deleted and run home to mummy

[chaosXpert]

@Desperatelyseekingrealnews How many countries invite China or Russia to build bases?

[Cook! with Cel]

wish i knew about this at that time period but its never to late to learn . Now i have a better understanding about that situation. I enjoyed this presentation

[Magnus Adolfsson]

Great lecture. There is somehow a super-power perspective, should we look the other way for nations to decide their own alliance?

[Tolbka Miskin]

​@Juhani Välimäki well, i wrote most "russians" not ukrainians who speak russian, but actually russians. I hope you get it. And maybe 80 percent ukrainins speak russians because of decades of "rusification". And those 20 percent perfectly understands russian language. To be clear, russians in russia, want war, they was so happy because of war in georgia, they happy to know that another ukrainian soldier died. Its their mentality to live in shit, being robed by their own goverment, but blaim usa, europe, ukraine, and feel happy when something bad happens to those. So telling that putin provoked by nato is such BS... nodody wanted to be part of nato in ukraine, but when russia invades in crimea and created that war in donbas, just to be safer only because of what russia did, yes people want to be in nato. And russia spend billions to pay all those professors, blogers, and others, to spread that lie that russia is being provocked, when its other way around, russia just terrorize countries until they want to be part of nato to be protected from russia.

[Juhani Välimäki]

@Tolbka Miskin I know five Russian speaking Ukrainians personally enough to know what they think. All against Putin. Of course my statistic sample is small and there might be bias as they are all educated and can read English. And they are also in Finland. But certainly does not look like the armchair professor is thinking that all Russian-speaking would be for Moscow.

[therealrockguy]

Thank you for sharing. You made your points very clear and easy to understand.

[techguy651]

The Clash of Civilizations book should be standard reading for the 21st century. We’re witnessing the decentralization of power away from formalized nation states and the more we try to centralize that power (into NATO/EU or whatever) instead of allowing decentralized sovereignty, the more of these conflicts we’re going to see.

[Andres Pope]

Great lecture, our political leaders should watch and listen

[Chris Redding]

As many below have said: You have to keep reminding yourself that this lecture happened over six years ago.

[Haez]

I mean the US have been interfering in Ukraine since the 50s

[fsinjin60]

@Holly Crompton Because Russia is already beyond its borders. In Georgia, in Ukraine, Crimea, even Kalinograd if truth be recognized. Why doesn't Ukraine has a right to defend its border with foreign help?

[K T]

Fast forward to January 2022 and we now have the scenario he describes in the last minute of this video, which he describes as potentially very dangerous.

[Ann Mowatt]

Brilliant talk. Wonderful to hear someone not only speaking sense but doing it so clearly. Thank you.

[Phat Baby]

Agreed. Yet, I couldn't discern whether he was serious or sarcastic when he stated several times that the US goal was to bring democracy and Capitalism to the world. Democracy and Capitalism are almost polar opposites. Tongue in cheek maybe?

[Simon Oxley]

What a super presentation and how utterly depressing that most of Professor Mearsheimer’s predictions have come true.

[Chris Fox]

One of the most interesting videos I have watched ... ever. What a superbly informed man.

[Shelly Smith]

I started watching this and thought it was recorded in Jan 2022! This is exactly what is still happening!

[Mr Pangy]

Very interesting that this is coming up again after many years. One of the most interesting points is that Mearsheimer brings in an ethical point that leads into "strategic interest," when the point of leaving unchecked behavior is more the point that I would like to hear more about.

[Dima K.]

and stop talking about "independence" and "joining NATO" at the same time. Those are incompatible things.

[Dima K.]

@Nu Pagadii chill bro, it's politics. Ukraine won't ever become a part of NATO with the USA, EU, Ukraine and Russia as they are today. It's a stalemate. If one of those parties changes dramatically, or say Ukraine accepts that Crimea and Donbass and Russians for good - then maybe.

[Eric Vardek]

@Moose Moose In what world is that ever going to happen. Get real dude - as in realpolitik.

[Adebagbo joshua]

Great lecture, the wisdom and relevancy after 6 years is frightening though. Now I understand Germany not even allowing military aids to fly in her airspace to Ukraine. China/Taiwan debacle, Iran, Afghan and Syria positions now makes sense.

[Cosmo Smallpiece]

Good lecture and by and large factual, but still a US view. Certainly the most unbiased view from John.

[Yassy bubla]

@Cosmo Smallpiece I'll take that as a complement:)

[Cosmo Smallpiece]

@Yassy bubla when the loans cannot be repaid what then...true no tanks..the chinese are subtle.

[Cosmo Smallpiece]

@canon2k7 they own a huge chunk of Darwin. The yanks lease their base.

[Random Name]

@punk4rockorz I never claimed china was the good guy. they are on the defensive most of the time, until recently when they started pushing back. but when it comes to the china good vs china bad narrative, where the bad stories are overwhelmingly sourced from US/western media where they have clear motive to do so, I'm leaning towards the china good (or I should say China not bad) side 9 times out of 10. by the way, none of the channels I mentioned are China based. they are independent sources, and quite a few of them are sick of US imperialism and war mongering. the US uses lies to start wars because the "defense" contractors, who lobby congress, profit in times of conflict and turmoil.

[Beautiful Ethiopia]

I like someone who dare to speak the truth in all its simplicity.

[Utkarsh Mishra]

He basically predicted all the things which are happening today in 2022, excellent person

[Wizard of Oz]

@Maria Ivanova and what Zhirinovsky predicted before Americans invaded Iraq? Complete and total nonsense.

[Maria Ivanova]

A Russian politician, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, predicted this in 2000's, so not much new for me here.

[Anirban Roy]

@Alexander Plain bro then how will the media and politican eat

[Alexander Plain]

and not enough people listened, shame.

[endall39]

I want to see an updated version of this lecture

[Eamon Brennan]

It's extraordinary how (at the time of the gulf war) it was repeatedly stated that this conflict was NOT ABOUT OIL. But 20 years later an academic can casually drop the fact that it was all about oil into a lecture.

[Ferragus]

@Eamon Brennan im not sure there are exactly 12 currently but every source i've looked at doesn't mention there being more than that, feel free to share yours tho Thing is you don't take the weight of nationalism in the iraqi population into account, a force any new government's gonna have to deal with and the same goes for the us im not saying a complete withdrawal of western forces is likely in the coming months thats for sure, we're gonna have to wait for the situation to stabilize at first, but they're not gonna be able to maintain bases permanently, the US doesnt have as much power as u may think

[Eamon Brennan]

@Ferragus If you think that there are 12 US bases in Iraq you are seriously misinformed. Even when all of the forward bases disappear over the next few years there will remain at least half a dozen (like in Saudi Arabia) and they won't be going anywhere irrespective of who is in government.

[Ferragus]

@Eamon Brennan 12 at the moment and that will probably go down to zero if the sadrists come to power once they get their heads out their asses you are tho, the US were only able to pull that kinda shit in the 90s and 2000s, the current administration doesn't have the political capital nor the will to intervene directly in iraqi internal affairs, at least with the same intensity as before i rly insist, al kadhimi may be closer to the us than iran but he's not simply serving their interests

[Blip]

You could casually drop that fact at McDonald's in 1991. Everyone knew it lmao

[Joseph Jones]

@nicolas vega-frey That's not true at all. The majority of the contracts for them went to European companies (they're "state owned"). The money was spread around.

[R Ally]

A masterclass in geopolitics. Thanks.

[G1Arduo]

Feels like a video that's just been released this month. Can't believe this is so relevant 7 years later.

[Pravda]

12:48 Tremendous lecture, and particularly relevant given recent events, but it really has to be said whenever this conversation is being had- if for no other reason than in the interest of pursuing the truth of the matter- that America's geo-political strategies and rationale have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the proliferation of democracy. If they can manage to cobble together an election with their boys in one corner and controlled opposition of some sort in the other, fine- it's good press after all and can serve as further justification for expansion down the road- but that isn't the principal motive. What they are installing are not democracies, but allies. Whether those allies take the form of liberal democrats or an outright, unapologetic military dictatorship is immaterial. Furthermore wether or not the people being overthrown arrived at their position democratically is of equal unimportance.They want places to extract vast quantities of wealth, strictly on their terms, with no fight back of any kind. It's truly that simple. Any attempt to obfuscate that basic truth only serves to muddy the water and allows for broad support of a fundamentally imperialistic foreign policy under the mistaken impression that they are acting in service of the liberation of mankind from the thralls of despotism.

[Pravda]

@Test Account Yeah the bit about the "need for Russia on Syria, Iran and China" isn't great either. The whole thing started to fall apart more and more the longer he went on tbh. Definitely praised the lecture prematurely. He was correct insofar as he's right that the West fomented the current crisis in Ukraine, and his observations about the strategic significance of Ukraine were pretty good, but that's about it. Beyond that it pretty quickly descends into the usual unhinged positions on America's perceived geo-political role

[Test Account]

This is exactly my thoughts while watching that part. I'm only on 25th minute of this video, but a part about "installing democracy" was the most disturbing to watch so far. The second disturbing part was a simplistic approach to explaining what actions in western Ukraine led to uprisings in eastern Ukraine.

[Blip]

23:10 No, this lecture sucks.

[froeshy froeschken]

Thanks for uploading. Is there a printed version of this speech? Where and when was this speech hold?

[Andersson A. F. Porto]

Surprises me that from 2014 until now 2022 nothing changes and the solution is the buffer state how proposed by the brilliant Professor

[Flankymanga]

I am watching this video in anuary 2022 thinking that this presentation happened in December 2021. You can't imagine my shock finding out that prof. Mearsheimer had this presentation in 2015 and everything he said was spot on. The things he discussed are playing out right now as i write this comments.

[ryan verner]

Hi john you mentioned one key thing in this video that you say would never happen but actually has been happening. China has been sending troops to the Canadian united states border for training in cold weather for quite sometime now. It's no mystery they say it's for other reasons obviously but how does monroe doctrine not apply to them doing things like that.

[Regina Semenenko]

That should be stopped. Thanks for mentioning this, though.

[jerryakehurst]

Puts in mind Churchill's comment - "You can always trust the Americans to do the right thing ....... after they've tried everything else"

[Josh Spry]

Watching this 7 years later and I can say we pushed Russia to china.

[godson johnson]

You gave a good analysis of the situation.👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[busyrand]

This was a joy to watch. This professor is a great presenter.

[Life With Daughters]

Well thank you so much! This was amazing, something has not sat right with me when it came to the issue of Ukraine and I’m so glad I came across this video has really helped me to understand and confirm in my heart what I’ve been sensing and feeling this whole time.

[Jc tr4]

Yes, We will never find the truth listening to main stream media.

[Robert Walton-Sharp]

It is an alternative reality, which if you start watching Russia Today will seem all the more real to you.

[Tengku Aliff]

13:45 this is my favourite part of the speech. Stating that US's political interest is to have someone pro-western to be elected, since a democratically elected government aligns more to western values. Which of course is obvious and makes sense, but also shows the underlying reason as to why US is so adamant at interfering in these elections. The US is not 100% pro-democracy as they are more towards anti-communist/ any other dictatorial or authoritarian-style of ruling.

[Fitgirl Legbusta]

@TAR ICO What a completely childlike sarcasm. You think that nations have ever not interfered with eachother? The point is the consequence, not the act itself.

[Paul Leslie]

I think the more profound issue with the current crisis is that it is creating a pervers partnership between Russia and China and is opening the back door for China to progress its expansion quest by providing a smokescreen for China to move on Taiwan

[Ron MacKinnon]

Thoughtful and intelligent as he is, I'm surprised Professor Mearsheimer is so naive as to take US democracy-promotion rhetoric at face value. Orientation to US and western economic interests is always the goal, and if actual democracy ever threatened to get in the way of that, it would be dealt with. Creating the appearance of democracy in the minds of US and international audiences is what's really involved, and groups like the NED are well-practiced at it.

[D Dehggial]

I don't think he's naive but he probably too has a hand that he can't bite.

[GKJ85]

He says what the majority of Europeans think. Politicians and big business want their bread basket, and a new market for their products. The politicians and the big industry will make a lot of money and we the people will pay the price to get that country up to the standard of Western Europe. And just the thought of all that crime and corruption and half of Ukraine will flow into Europe.

[hyhhy]

This guy knows his stuff.

[Jill Featherman]

I see that I’m not the only one here refreshing their history. It’s amazing how well he predicted the current situation.

[Phone Owner]

I literally thought this was made a month ago. It felt surreal to realize that this was made 6 years ago!

[Nadia Vanag]

This is fantastic, thank you.

[Sandip Sinha]

Prof.that was excellent views, very balanced. In this case the best thing to do is to do nothing at the present time.

[Anton Andreev]

Absolutely brilliant and still relevant. Good lord, why am I only watching this now?

[Will 1]

Is nobody shocked that he is openly saying that the us installs favourable governments in foreign countries?

[Tim Mulrenan]

Well thought out discussion of the Ukraine situation, 8 years before our current predicament. He saw it coming. Certainly a different perspective from what we’re being fed today, but it is very credible.

[N J]

@omgitsfed opinion of the foreign minister isn't a dissent, it's the position of a ministry, and ministers aren't elected - they are appointed to govern. But I get it, now you're trying to clumsily walk back and provide excuses for yourself instead of just admitting falling for Putin's tactics emotionally

[omgitsfed]

@N J Dissenting opinion within the political bodies of Ukraine is expected and important..., it's a nice little feature of democracy. Of course however, Russia preparing for a pending invasion and staging a few false flag operations within Ukraine would elicit a dramatic response. Whether Putin pulls the trigger or puts the gun away, the general consensus in Ukraine is that it needs help, and anyone queasy/upset about the prospect of war is justified in doing so...., Expletives are far from the worse outcome of all this. These Chamberlain esque diatribes apologizing for Russia's actions are pitiful, as are the backwards thinking individuals that prop them up.

[Jeff Heyer]

This is very relevant right now.. your predictions were pretty much spot on!

[A. Michael Uhlmann]

Not only where his predictions about Ukraine right on the spot (six years ago), but in some extra remarks, he mentioned that it would be really bad if Russia and China would cooperate again - and yes these two nations found each other again, Russia helping China advancing it's Belt & Road policy.

[Beatsbydanzy]

@Aaron Aarons agreed

[Aaron Aarons]

I hope that Russia, China and other countries can unite against Western imperialism.

[Bishop Woodrow H. Dawkins Jr.]

Now This Man Knows What He's Talking About. Thank You Sir.

[Joshua Hollister]

Found it kinda funny how when he made the joke about how the chinese public were smarter than the Americans, and the audience laughed before he told the punchline

[Marcin Gajda]

Truly American approach. Talking about "making" other countries into something without considering their interests and opinions.

[Askar Kalykov]

Yet somehow they don't understand why would others be unhappy about it?

[Maggie Kri]

Thanks for laying it out so clearly - more people need to see this.

[NO NO]

@2_UU Ukraine shouldnt join NATO. If you say that Ukraine should join Nato then how about Cuba joining Russia and actually deploying nukes to kick USA out

[Graeme Glen]

Wow !! I was watching this without checking the date (6 years ago) and thought he was talking about current events. Things that pertain to this week. Which essentially he is. It's a shame Governments are controlled by politicians and not clear thinking smart people like John here.

[Sófocles Morán]

Amazing, still so currently accurate!

[Conscious Objector]

Totally agree with this synopsis.

[George George]

there are short-medium and long-term goals that humanity should aim at...I think that the issues such as Russia/CCP vs USA vs Rogue States (or the "battle of religions" that is also trying to sell itself as the "battle of all time") is the medium term and in the long term (100+ years) humanity should aim the effort onto another dimensions of our human potential and capabilities.

[Дмитрий Колыхалов]

хорошая лекция

[Maot Nah]

Well explained and Brilliant professor and we know now what's really going on to the world.

[Edin Fifić]

Just as I was hoping I was wrong about the U.S. and the rest of the world getting dumber and more childish, this man erased that hope. Idiocracy is real, it's just more subtle than in the movie.

[Paul KC]

Very clear and helpful.

[Deep Rolling River]

Wow. I got the American media/government take on this. To hear the other side of the story is quiet illuminating

[John Burton]

Excellent presentation on the causes and implications of Ukrainian crisis given in 2015 that hold true for 2022. It has implications for American Ukrainian policies in 2022 towards resolution of the 2022 Ukrainian crisis with RUSSIA!

[pusheen73]

Amazing! America still has smart people like him!

[Nceguy]

Wow, given recent events...this man was spot on with every point.

[Allan Aringo]

When it comes to Ukraine, less TV and more lectures will prove to be the way to go

[Wizard of Oz]

Why you think the lectures should be truthful?

[Sue James]

An absolutely brilliant talk..Most of what we see is the West positioning, I am really grateful people are watching this, as most people hear the word Russian, and immediately think they are at fault.. Even being blamed now for the Canadian truckers...

[Künstlerin-DAB1995]

Is Putin's torture of Crimean Tatars just the fault of the West as well?

[Warren S.]

"Even being blamed now for the Canadian truckers..." Lol yeah, that might be the dumbest thing to emerge in 2021 thus far *facepalm*

[Shahrukh Daud]

Wow! Appreciated the PPT slides and explanation.

[John L]

Great lecture. This is the Russian equivalent of the Cuban missile crisis.

[John L]

@edrdavenport78 It was also Cuba’s right to align with themselves with the USSR, particularly after the ‘Bay of Pigs invasion’ a year earlier. Kennedy was right to protect Americans from having nukes on their front doorstep during the missile crisis; it’s also reasonable for Russia to protect their strategic interests. Put yourself in their shoes.

[Victor Shankle]

I sure hope not

[edrdavenport78]

Not equivalent. Russia literally annexed a part of Ukraine. If the Ukrainians feel it's in their best interest to join NATO, that's their prerogative. There's nothing inherently offensive about that, as there was with the Cuban missile crisis.

[Jerry Cutler]

As always, Dr. Mearsheimer, thank you so much for your wisdom.👏

[MrFischvogel]

Thank you very much, Sir, for this clear and very convincing argument against the majority opinion ! =)

[John Deighan]

Lucid and relevant lecture.

[Anantha]

Watching this in 2022, I realized that all of his predictions in this video have come true !!!

[Elena Drachyovs]

To achieve something that has its own integration, it is required to have some various Powers: Electrons, Protons and Neutrons. If there is one power only, it will always break up the Integrity later due no the nature of domination instinct. From a Russian with love 🙌💓

[Nathan Adams]

First time i have heard truth spoken about Ukraine. Finally

[Stuart Platt]

Love this speech and thank god he has the freedom to speak openly and sometimes even negatively about his own country. He definitely changed my mind about this conflict.

[Gorotoro]

Matthew Hiatt Democrats Most of people on twitter most people on reddit

[CainIwakura Ch. カイン岩倉]

Crazy to think this lecture was 6 year ago and it's accurate.

[Sabrina Tschäß]

@ptr mjsur They remove democratically elected leaders everywhere they go. Happened in Ukraine (in 2014 I think). The guy who was replaced was opposed to conflict in Russia. Funny how that works.

[ptr mjstr]

you guys realy bealive nato is promoting democracy??

[Terry Gabriel]

As for the Europe first policy going into war, he forgets the only reason the US got involved in European wars was for its own benefit in WW1 and had no choice in WW2 because Hitler declared war on the US.

[Fulton County Junk Queen]

A friendly reminder this was 6 YEARS ago! This is a smart man! Sopt On! Genius! Not one single CONSPIRACY added to this lecture.... NOT FAKE NEWS! TRUTH!!

[Dayne Dosher]

The American government would do well to listen to this Gentleman

[73 zzyyzzyy]

Some people/creatures would feel extremely insecure and uncomfortable, if there is something/someone which cannot be controlled by them. Therefore, these people/creatures have been doing whatever it takes to destroy/kill anything/any people/any creatures which cannot be controlled by them, if they can destroy/kill them. Unfortunately, other people have not yet been able to stop them from doing so.

[c minor]

Thank you so much; our own government today wants to keep this information from American people

[Helio Sant'Ana]

Great explanation. I really would like to see an updated lecture of this subject, adding Belarus and Kazakhstan current situation to his analysis.

[Ivan Zinchenko]

@Ben so as USSR and now Russia, and many other countries in history. What makes you put a blame on US in this specific case is your personal agenda. It is not based in relevant facts, just a generalization.

[John Richard]

@Fedor Be careful - it sounds as if you are drowning in their kool-aid

[Ivan Zinchenko]

@Ben that doesn’t answer my question, I was asking about Ukraine and Kazakhstan specifically

[Alpha Male]

This is crazy. Been doing a lot of my own research even listening to Putin’s points in his speeches recently. Literally looks like he took it out of this dudes PowerPoint lmao.

[Rahul Ingle]

Thanks for this great video.