The Tragedy of Great Power Politics Summary

This book presents John Mearsheimer’s theory of offensive realism. According to him, the international system has no central government powerful enough to guarantee the security of every country. Since states can never be completely certain about the future intentions of other states, great powers try to increase their own strength and prevent competitors from becoming dominant. Even a country that does not originally desire war may feel compelled to build military power because it fears the possible rise of another state. Mearsheimer calls this situation tragic because competition does not necessarily result from evil leaders; it grows out of insecurity within the international system. His argument is not that every state seeks global conquest, but that great powers normally seek regional dominance and attempt to prevent rival powers from dominating other important regions.

1. The international system is anarchic because no world government stands above sovereign states.

1. Great powers possess enough military capability to cause serious harm to one another.

1. States can never know the future intentions of other countries with complete certainty.

1. Survival is the most basic objective of every great power.

1. Because security is uncertain, states try to obtain as much relative power as possible.

1. A regional hegemon is a country powerful enough to dominate its own geographical region.

1. Great powers generally try to prevent other states from becoming regional hegemons.

1. Alliances are temporary because states cooperate mainly when they face a common threat.

1. Mearsheimer argues that the rise of a major power can create fear and resistance even when that power describes its intentions as peaceful.

1. Important quotation: “The sad fact is that international politics has always been a ruthless and dangerous business.” It summarizes Mearsheimer’s belief that insecurity and power competition are permanent features of international politics.