I wish we had professors like him at university, then I would have even gone to the lectures.

I don’t believe this story about China. It was simply greedy capitalists seeking cheap labour and a larger market place. Now that, rightly so, they have restricted neoliberalism and more importantly, started restricting access to critical internal markets and now that labour costs have risen, it’s no longer the US best friend. Plus it has become a dominant player in asia-pac and the US can’t bear not being the only bully. If I was German, I’d detest the damage the US has done to their economy. Just because they wanted to supply their hydrocarbon sources instead of Russia, quite appalling.

Wow, das ist eine Überraschung, Max und John!

Max Otte, so glad you spoke to Professor John Mearsheimer! JM's a GEM of a REALIST. Really wish more in our academy and government leadership were REALIST too.

Frieden stiften, Menschen aufklären anstatt: wir sind die Guten und die anderen sind schlecht. Diese Kriegstreiberei ist hoch gefährlich und beendet werden, bevor es überschwabt. Herzlichen Dank für Ihre Friedensbemühungen.

always very clear , erudite and logical in his exposition of the world geo-political situation, many thanks to Professor Max Otte !

nobody wants to think of themselves as bad guys. democracy is a justification to consider yourself as a good guy. likewise, since romans viewed most other peoples as uncivilized barbarians, they thought they had the right to rule over them. prisoners too find different excuses why they committed crimes and some even regard themselves as innocent.

Mearsheimer is spot on

Thank you very much for the valuable conversation.

Очень интересная беседа. Спасибо, JM! Я рад, что смог посмотреть это видео. Реализм, прагматизм, конфликтность и т.д. в отношениях между странами основаны на базовой аксиоме: ресурсы ограничены, а потребности людей стремятся к бесконечности.

Thank you for an illuminating conversation, gentlemen.

These are such great information video discussions. Thank you for posting them.

Wow, extremely well explained! Great work John.

China seems like a pretty responsible stakeholder...Belt and Road project vs Forever wars hmmm I know which one I back.

Great discussion, danke schön!

Its ok for US to have 800 bases all around the world including at borders of other countries because its realism due to its power, but its not ok for China to make its own surroundings secure or have its province integrated, the province which is used by US against China? I guess realist or not, the sense of American exceptionalism still creeps in.

Peace Now!!!

what a great interview Max! thank you much and cheers from mexico

An old fashion American, ...from a time when not all were liars.

Excellent analysis like usual... a big master in geopolitics and "cold" realism... a pleasure to listen to this great conversation...

tolles Interview, Danke !

Every time I listen to John, it feels like Christmas morning! What a gem. 👍🇨🇦

Mearsheimer at his best. The best IR Scholar alive.

Thanks. It´s obvious that a realistic approach to politics has great advantages!

was looking for this. Thanks.

Pragmatic, logical, candid and clear. Thanks very much !

" Why Ukraine is the West's fault " by J Mearsheimer 2015 : everything is there to understand the war in Ukraine

How gracefully he has changed his views on Russia and Ukraine based on the events. His words are so carefully put, I can hardly see any prediction by Mearsheimer gone wrong.

Thanks John, we love your work! 👍🏽🫡🇦🇺

Great interview, ty Prof. Otte

Wieder einmal einfach nur toller content auf dem Kanal von Max otte. Danke dafür.

J. Mearsheimer hat die Komplexität des Themas methodisch sehr logisch und klar dargestellt. Intellektuelle in Zeiten des Krieges ( auch bei Ralf Dahrendorf) zu finden, sollen Mut haben, die Wahrheit zu benennen und nicht aus Angst schweigen. Denn mentale Blockaden führen weniger in die Handlung, sondern in weitere innere oder äußere Konflikte. Vielen Dank für das tolle Interview. Ich hoffe, das wir mit vielen klugen Köpfen und Mut den Frieden schaffen können.

This interview will not go to be quoted or distributed by DW. Instead, this is a breath of fresh air after the dominant position on the German media. At the end, Realpolitik was invented by Ludwig von Rochau, a German writer and politician in the 19th century. His 1853 book Grundsätze der Realpolitik angewendet auf die staatlichen Zustände Deutschlands started this topic. It is such a miss that are not visible on the internet some German scholars to discuss this today.

George Orwell many years ago in one of his essays said that people worshipped power . He is still well worth reading.

38:43 VERY IMPORTANT! Thank you for reminding us of this fact. Where has Europe pride and self-respect gone?

Excellent as usual from Professor Mearsheimer .

Always a privilege to listen to Professor Mearsheimer. The leaders of the West should listen to him. Thank you.

The assumption that Russians are not going to conquer all Ukraine may not be valid any more. Russians didn’t have such intentions when they started the invasion, but they may have changed them.

Superb conversation.

Merchheimer is explaining abvious things on fingers to the kids, who refuse to believe what they see. 🤣😂😅

Great conversation!

Vielen Dank für dieses Gespräch, Herr Otte. Prof Mearsheimer betrachtet das Problem absolut rational aus der Vogelperspektive. Leider ist die Debatte in Deutschland komplett emotionalisiert und es geht nur um Gut und Böse, RIchtig und Falsch. Prof Mearsheimer sollte viel mehr Beachtung hierzulande erfahren.

That was excellent!

I think that even in the uni-polar moment the US behaved in line with realism theories, for example, the purpose of NATO expansion was to keep Russia down, powerless and subservient, and the aim of support of China in the beginning was to benefit from and exploit Chinese success. The surprise is that Russia revived itself and refused to be submissive, and China also refused to be submissive and beholden to the US....and, of course, both retain key principles of integrity and morality which have dissapeared from the Western world.

Abgesehen vom exzellenten Inhalt ist es auch eine Wohltat, einen Deutschen so gut wie akzentfrei auf internationaler Bühne und ohne provinzielle Beschränktheit ein Gespräch führen zu hören.

Thank you for this conversation and recommending a book.

I'm fan for Prof Mearshaimer and yes that lecture "Why Is Ukraine the West Fault" was very first time when I've been hear anything about John Mearshaimer. I did share that lecture few times different forums and news sites, that headline tells everything and thats easy to share. You can just pick few points from text what gives view realistic reasonings. Theres no difficulty words in headline. That was... Not first realism speech for Crimea invasation what I've read or heard, but the most comprehensive at least. Mearshaimer speech was very passionate and probably that why I did warch whole lecture. After that was Yale lectures and London but that was that first from universitys. This is probably the best net interview what I've been ever seen. CIS interview was cood and Moscow also but this one was the best. I've been waiting that does Mr Mearshaimer some day say anything USA plan B after they start arming and training Ukrainians after 2014. Finland did join to NATO and that seems somehow been already planned. 2016 Finland made study that what is Russian react if Finland try join to NATO and after that Putin join to Finland and press did ask that for Putin and he answer: "NATO would gladly fight with Russian to the last finnish soldier. We dont want that, but its Finland choice" 2019 election of the parliament all police partys except one say no to NATO and one party say that there should be elections before Finland try join to NATO. Then comes 2022 and invasation starts, after couple gallups and Finland join to NATO. No elections there, just some propaganda. This really looks that it was plan b. Plan a was ofcourse get Ukraine armed and join to NATO first. Does Russian revense that too to Ukraine? They cant hurt to Finland anymore and USA is whom said what gonna happen, I think. Or was that really act from Finlands PM Marin and President Niinistö? I just dont believe that. If that was plan b, it was very cold blood plan to against ukrainians. They are dying and destroyd. Then USA have been thinking that we win anyway.

Vielen Dank

what a great and insightful conversation!, JM is so knowledgeable about many things happened/happening around the world.

Ich habe gerade Tichys Einblick gesehen. Das ist eine Katastrophe für Deutschland.

Love him or hate him, M has been right all along and I suspect he will be right here too

Intelligent arguments, kluge Argumente and a civilized discourse und ein ziviliserter Austausch von Gedanken are very rare in today's Germany sind zu selten im Heutigen Deutschland und ich meine die Bundesrepublik. Vielen Dank, Max, for bringing back this part of our culture.

This is a reason why i like these realists, they are not delusional !

Gentlemen, so rare, so great. Thank you.

Excellent Interview! Danke!

I both respect and admire Prof. Mearsheimer's courage to stick to his guns on this issue even when put on a kill list by the Kiev regime. However I don't think Russia will be willing to freeze the conflict, why would they want to do this again in a few years after NATO trains & arms more Ukrainians and gears up it own ammunition production. Unfortunately the west will leave Russia no choice but to go all the way to the Polish border just as they left Russia no choice but to intervene in the Ukrainian civil war.

Clear, wise, deep, realistic, professional thoughts. Thank you, professor.

Excellent analysis from Dr Mearshimer. As always.

His description of realism and the outlook the theory has on States and how they relate to each other reminds me A LOT of the Black Forest hypothesis for the solution of the fermi paradox. A bit chilling.

I hope there are smart Germans watching the end of this video. Prof tells bluntly to the face of Germans as well the Americans it is what it is. The Ukraine conflict is definitely not in the interest of The EU thus they should have not followed the American steps into it. Personally I believe they EU can be a major competitor to the US/Russia/China if they focus on theirs owns interests.

thank you

I am always struck by Mearsheimers inconsistency regarding policy towards China vs policy towards Russia: Whereas USA should not tolerate China becoming a peer competitor and a regional hegemon, all of Eastern Europe should be left to Russia as its sphere of influence, thus granting Russia the status of regional hegemon. Can anyone clarify this? Thanks.

A thought provoking interview but I think Prof Mearsheimer has discounted the neo-con ideologues in Washington. If they were to be removed, it is conceivable that a rapprochment with Russia could come quickly. Of course, it would leave Europe and Ukraine hanging in the winds and a lot of embarrassed political leaders.

What a time to be alive. I mean there's no breather to catch

Excellent and enlightening talk, thank you.

Mearsheimer is a gem. What a brilliant mind he has developed! Pure respect.

John talks about the nb of people and artillery. I think he forgets nowadays drones and hypersonics. But, likely they have an advantage in that too.

excellent. very sharp and relevant . should be mandatory for elected officials to listen to.

Did I miss something or why was there no discussion of the United States destroying the Nord stream pipeline?

Thanks for making this interview available on KZfaq. JM is such a splendid teacher. I can't go to U of Chicago and take poly sci courses in IR, but I have access to the thought of JM through this medium. Hearing his lectures and interviews on YT has been so edifying.

Brilliant!....more of this please!

He is absolutely right, in almost all his opinions- and sadly so too, in many ways!

nice to hear a clear thinking mind!

Brilliant as usual! Thank you

Discovered "Autobiography of a Yogi" on Mr. Otte's bookshelf. - That's surprising me somehow, but in a positive way. - 😊

The German Otte speaks very well english, my compliments!!!!

Well put

This prof is a genius . Very clear thinking and excellent articulation .. His earlier predictions on Ukraine came true so far. I believe his predictions for future also will come true . My appreciation for this great thinker grows with each video of him that I watch .

Very interesting point views interesting

So knowledgeable.

Good stuff.

Germany has the most to lose, being the powerhouse of the EU. They have more to protect, therefore, they bow to the US. 😢

Truth is appeasing to listen thanks verify much

The 'West' likes to portray the rightwing Nationalistic government and Ukraine as synonymous. Most people accept this outright... and yet this is exactly where errors in contemplating this conflict start. There're many slavic ethnicities present, many Polish Ukrainians, Russian Ukrainians, etc. There is no homogenous Ukraine. Western paid analysts don't understand ( or are unwilling to talk about... ) the larger geopolitical picture. This conflict is identical to the proxy war being fought in Syria... between Russia and the US. Just another series of small, dirty skirmishes... again, with mostly proxy forces. The Ukrainian conflict has the US fighting with 'proxy' Ukrainian nationalists, Russia with a private military outfit and separatist militia. A fight between the 'dregs' of each combatants society. This is not a full blown war... it's a long drawn out process of small scale ‘lethal’ encounters. For Russia, this conflict was never against Ukraine or Ukrainians. It's against the far-right Nationalist regime there, funded and weaponised by the US. This conflict for them, is about demolishing all 'violent' nationalism on their border. Remember… Zelensky's party was originally voted in on a mandate of peace with Russia. The president of Ukraine is a TV comedian - who was on a successful TV show for two seasons, where a 'nobody' off the street became the Ukrainian president... and brought peace, an end to corruption and prosperity to the country. Even his own political party in Ukraine was started, is organised and run by, the same TV production company that made the TV series. After the 'show' ended, their plan was hatched. To try and fool the voting public with a chance at the same fantasy. Of course the population were going to vote for it. It's what people want from their politicians... a fairy story, cloaked in Nationalism, in order to escape their bleak lives, dominated by near total corruption. The current Ukrainian rightwing regime is actually a 'business venture' paid for, and masterminded by Ukrainian oligarchs. ( Google 'Pandora papers and Zelensky' ) Nothing is as it seems... because most of it is a fiction, fabricated by those in the industry of fabrication. Everything you hear, is just nonstop propaganda. The Ukrainian nationalists are forcing thousands of its young to die for a Western audience, to cheer at - in order to continue their Western funding efforts. Ultimately, to keep the rightwing nationalist party in power... as the only political voice, in the country. This conflict isn't about sovereignty, it's about keeping the rightwing government in power. These Nationalists don't care how many die... 'nationalistic idealism' feels itself to be, far more important than mere lives. The 'Western' audience is receiving little to no real news, just nonstop Ukrainian nationalistic rightwing propaganda. In order to keep the rightwing nationalistic regime in power. Which is what the Americans want. This conflict is not worthy of the 'righteous praise' that the Wests, modern 'self-described' democracy …propagandises it as. It only breeds more warmongers, more self-righteousness about continuing the bloodshed. However much the US desperately wants regime change in Russia... this isn't the way.

Why are so many fools watching long videos of ”DW” ”France 24” “BBC”, but this video only has 19k views... hey guys Fiat and Ferrari are the same price !

I agree 100% with the fact that realism is the way the real world works. Power is the deciding factor. I'm not concerned about how other countries decide to present themselves. But I as an American do NOT want America to flex its power. What I want is a simple government that won't attempt to police the world. I was told that Teddy Roosevelt's statement, "Speak softly and carry a big stick" was a prime example of realism. Teddy sailed his battleships into ports all over the world to show his power. I don't agree with that. I don't believe America should have all of these military bases in foreign countries. They call it realism. Is it possible America's government misuses the term realism? I want America to have a foreign policy that simply says we don't care what goes on in the rest of the world.

Danke, für das Interview mit Herrn Mearsheimer in seiner klaren (englisch-amerikanischen) Sprache. Aber könnte man trotzdem nicht deutsche Untertitel dazufügen? Wäre bei manchen Begriffen und Sätzen hilfreich für Eingeborene vom Volk des Interviewers Max Otte.

danke max otte, für diesen hervorragenden historiker j.m --- very goog stuff --- es fehlt an den deutschen medien -- bis auf tvactivisme - das dieser gute analyst eine stimme in unserem "dunstkreis" bekommt / weiter so!!!!

Great interview. Only one question with the Prof. Where would he prefer to be? Democracy or the opposite?

Ich verstehe das mit der multipolaren Welt nicht. Warum sagt er, dass es 2017 zu einer Verschiebung von Unipolarer Welt zu Multipolarer Welt gekommen ist, bzw. welche Ereignisse/Entwicklungen sind da wichtig?

danke

John J. Mearsheimer is a legend!! the media should start preach peace! Wagner slaughtered 50,000 Ukies in Bakhmut. The counteroffensive will be another embarrassment! Seek peace guys

interesting points by Prof Mearsheimer, i wonder if he will be willing to engage critically about the shortcomings of structural realism to understand International Politics, the pessimistic nature of realist theory, obsession with predicting and suppositions, constantly understanding people's behavior's within the real of state actors not individuals, it is for this reason why realism is old and out of fashion in understanding today's international order.

Love it!

The argument that USA and Russia are morally equal and that the Ukraine war is thus just a power competition is clearly wrong. Ask the average citizen in Poland, Estonia, Czech Republic or Germany wether they prefer being with the US or with Russia/Soviet Union. As a Swede, and thus a subject of Biden according to John, I must say it's not too bad. John is arguing that the abused wife should stay with her abuser rather than calling the police, because the abuser might become violent, and this violence is the fault of the police or the wife, anyone but the abuser.

Ich begrüße diesen unaufgeregten Talk und die fundierte Analyse. Ein wertvoller Ausgleich zur populären Presse.

Finally, someone is sharing my idea, that USA fueled China to become global power thanks to globalization and liberal democracy! Thank you Mr. Mearsheimer!

Can someone tell where in the US people speak his accent? To me as an European it sounds very similar to Canadian …

I would be helpful to ask about this : In 1990 Mearsheimer published an essay where he predicted that Europe would revert to a multipolar environment similar to that in the first half of the Twentieth century if American and Soviet forces left following the end of the Cold War. In this essay and in the 1993 article in Foreign Affairs "The case for a Ukrainian nuclear deterrent", he argued that to reduce the dangers of war, the United States should encourage Germany and Ukraine to develop a nuclear arsenal, while working to prevent the rise of hyper-nationalism. Mearsheimer presented several possible scenarios for a post-Cold-War Europe from which American and Russian forces had departed. He believed that a Europe with nuclear proliferation was most likely to remain at peace, because without a nuclear deterrent Germany would be likely to once more try to conquer the continent (See pages 32-33). Mearsheimer argued that it would be strategically unwise for Ukraine to surrender its nuclear arsenal (remnants of the Soviet stockpile). “

unfortunately in a dog-eat-dog world, John Mershiemer's structural realism theory does seem to be able to explain a lot of what's going on. very darwinian in a sense... on the bright side, it doesn't allow any party the moral high ground.... in fact, it seems to rule out that possibility ... that demands mutual respect of interests as a key tool in defining a system of order. it certainly sounds quite logical, but it isn't inspiring... the idea that humans collectively only act in certain ways sounds a bit far fetched.... but it's an interesting topic to understand.