Book Review: The Tragedy of Great Power Politics by John J. Mearsheimer

Author: John J. Mearsheimer
First Published: 2001 (Updated Edition: 2014)

Introduction

In the world of International Relations (IR), few works have sparked as much debate and lasting influence as John J. Mearsheimer’s The Tragedy of Great Power Politics.

First published in 2001, this book presents a bold and unsettling theory of international politics-offensive realism that continues to shape academic and policy discussions today.

The Central Argument

• Mearsheimer’s central claim is stark: great powers are doomed to compete for power endlessly because the anarchic nature of the international system leaves them no alternative.
• According to him, states can never be certain of others’ intentions, so they strive to maximize their power, ideally seeking regional hegemony.
• This perpetual struggle for dominance is the “tragedy” that underpins global politics.
• Whereas other realist thinkers, like Kenneth Waltz, emphasize defensive realism (states seeking security rather than power), Mearsheimer goes further arguing that the best way for states to survive is not to maintain balance but to outcompete and…