Restraint in Foreign Policy, John Mearsheimer
Channel: International Relations & Politics
Date: 2022-02-08

John Joseph Mearsheimer is an American political scientist and international relations scholar, who belongs to the realist school of thought. He is the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago. He has been described as the most influential realist of his generation.


Realism is a set of related theories of international relations that emphasize the role of the state, national interest, and power in world politics. ... Realism (including neorealism) focuses on abiding patterns of interaction in an international system lacking a centralized political authority.

Realism also captures various dimensions existing in international politics. It also gives an account of how these politics have been influenced and changed over time. This has played a significant role in helping different people as well as groups to construe individual politics in relation to international politics.

Mearsheimer  view, which he called "offensive realism," holds that the need for security, and ultimately for survival, makes states aggressive power maximizers. States do not cooperate, except during temporary alliances, but constantly seek to diminish their competitors' power and to enhance their own.

Mearsheimer based his theory on five core assumptions: (1) the international system is anarchic (there is no authority that exists above the states to arbitrate their conflicts), (2) all states have some military capability (however limited), (3) states can never fully ascertain the intentions of other states, 

Liberalism is based on the moral argument that ensures the right of an individual person to life, liberty, and property.

Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation, especially with the aim of gaining and maintaining the nation's sovereignty over its homeland to create a nation-state.

Nationalism is an ideology that emphasizes loyalty, devotion, or allegiance to a nation or nation-state and holds that such obligations outweigh other individual or group interests.

2.1 Language nationalism.
2.2 Religious nationalism.
2.3 Post-colonial nationalism.
In practice, nationalism can be positive or negative, depending on its ideology and outcomes. Nationalism has been a feature of movements for freedom and justice, has been associated with cultural revivals, and encourages pride in national achievements.

#nationalism
#liberalism
#realism

Both nationalism and patriotism indicate the relationship of the individual with his community of people.