Public intellectual and the prison of theory: John J. Mearsheimer
Journal: International Relations
Year: 2026

This article explains the relationship between Mearsheimer’s theoretical work and role as a public intellectual on three contemporary issues: Russia, China and Palestine. The argument is twofold. First, Mearsheimer’s theory sets limits on state behaviour that are dictated by the requirement of survival, while offering little normative theorisation on how policymakers should address the consequences of these limits. Second, the combination of too much limit and too little normative theorisation t