John Mearsheimer bibliography

John Mearsheimer
bibliography

Mearsheimer in 2007
Books ↙	The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001) The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy (2007) Why Leaders Lie: The Truth About Lying in International Politics (2011) The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities (2018)
Articles ↙	"Why the Soviets Can't Win Quickly in Central Europe"
References and footnotes

This is a list of works by John Mearsheimer (born 1947), an American political scientist and international relations scholar who is the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago. Mearsheimer's works cover international relations theory, international security and deterrence theory and he is best known for developing the neorealist (or structural realist) theory of offensive realism which describes the interaction between great powers as being primarily driven by the rational desire to achieve regional hegemony in an anarchic international system. His most notable publications include "Why the Soviets Can't Win Quickly in Central Europe" (1982), Conventional Deterrence (1983), Liddell Hart and the Weight of History (1988), The Tragedy of Great Power Politics (2001) where he postulates that China's growing power will likely bring it into conflict with the United States, The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy (2007) about the Israel lobby in the United States, Why Leaders Lie: The Truth About Lying in International Politics (2011) and The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities (2018) which criticizes the "liberal international order". ^[1]

His literary output has been the subject of an academic paper, which concluded that in his later years, he has focused increasingly on current events. ^[2]

Thesis

• — (August 1981). The Theory and Practice of Conventional Deterrence (PhD thesis). Ithaca: Cornell University. OCLC   8947951.

Articles

Journal articles

• — (1979). "Precision-guided munitions and conventional deterrence" (PDF). Survival . 21 (2): 68–76. doi:10.1080/00396337908441802. ISSN   0039-6338.
  • Criticised by Dan Gouré and Gordon McCormick the following year, ^[3] published with a rejoinder by Mearsheimer. ^[4] Referenced in several later studies on the topic but without extensive discussion: by Robert Mandel, ^[5] David Blagden, ^[6] Lauren Kahn and Michael C. Horowitz. ^[7]
• — (1980). "Debate on precision-guided munitions: Rejoinder" (PDF). Survival. 22 (1): 20–22. doi:10.1080/00396338008441860. ISSN   0039-6338.
• — (1981). "The British Generals Talk: A Review Essay" (PDF). International Security . 6 (1): 165–184. doi:10.1162/isec.6.1.165 (inactive 6 July 2025). ISSN   0162-2889.
• — (1982). "Maneuver, Mobile Defense, and the NATO Central Front" (PDF). International Security. 6 (3): 104–122. doi:10.2307/2538609. ISSN   0162-2889. JSTOR   2538609.
  • Described by Barry Posen as "a critical discussion of the possible tactical implications of the military reformers' prescriptions for ground warfare" ^[8] and regarded as important though not convincing by David P. Calleo, ^[9] it was referenced in the first years after its publication, ^[10] but its first detailed critique came from Joshua M. Epstein ^{[11] : 157} and several others in the context of the replacement of combined arms with maneuver doctrine in the United States Armed Forces around 1989 ^[12] and in the context of NATO's tactical future after the Cold War. ^[13] It has seen occasional treatments in retrospective literature since that time. ^[14]
• —; Schoenbaum, David (1982-01-04). "Correspondence: Clausewitz and the British Generals" (PDF). International Security. 6 (3): 223–229. doi:10.2307/2538616. ISSN   0162-2889. JSTOR   2538616.
• — (1982). "Why the Soviets Can't Win Quickly in Central Europe". International Security. 7 (1): 3–39. doi : 10.2307/2538686. ISSN   0162-2889.
• — (1983). "The Military Reform Movement: A Critical Assessment" (PDF). Orbis: A Journal for World Affairs . 27 (2): 285–300. ISSN   0030-4387.
• — (1984). "Nuclear Weapons and Deterrence in Europe" (PDF). International Security. 9 (3): 19–46. doi:10.2307/2538586. JSTOR   2538586.
• — (1985). "Prospects for Conventional Deterrence in Europe" (PDF). Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists . 41 (7): 158–162. Bibcode:1985BuAtS..41g.158M. doi:10.1080/00963402.1985.11456021. ISSN   0096-3402.
• — (1986). "A Strategic Misstep: The Maritime Strategy and Deterrence in Europe" (PDF). International Security. 11 (2): 3–57. doi:10.2307/2538957. ISSN   0162-2889. JSTOR   2538957.
• — (1988). "Numbers, Strategy, and the European Balance" (PDF). International Security. 12 (4): 174–185. doi:10.2307/2539001. ISSN   0162-2889. JSTOR   2539001.
• — (1989). "Assessing the Conventional Balance: The 3:1 Rule and Its Critics". International Security. 13 (4): 54–89. doi:10.2307/2538780. ISSN   0162-2889. JSTOR   2538780.
  • This article was published in response to criticisms of Mearsheimer's application of the 3:1 rule as expressed and used in Why the Soviets Can't Win Quickly in Central Europe. One of its chief critics, Joshua M. Epstein, published a rebuttal that year. ^[15] A detailed mathematical evaluation of the 3:1 rule, which Mearsheimer first examined in 1982, would not come until Kress and Talmor 1999. ^[16]
• —; Posen, Barry R.; Cohen, Eliot A. (1989). "Reassessing Net Assessment" (PDF). International Security. 13 (4): 128–179. doi:10.2307/2538782. ISSN   0162-2889. JSTOR   2538782.
• — (1990). "Back to the Future: Instability in Europe after the Cold War" (PDF). International Security. 15 (1): 5–56. doi:10.2307/2538981. ISSN   0162-2889. JSTOR   2538981.
  • The article's thesis turned out to be incorrect, but the article itself was retrospectively praised for its testable framing by Junio and Mahnken 2013. ^[17]

Mearsheimer's article provides an excellent example of scenario analysis being used to extend an existing theory and develop testable hypotheses that were subsequently falsified. Various reasons may explain why his theory was incorrect—such as normative claims, continued reliance on US security guarantees, and so on—but it is at least clear that his scenario-based approach framed a debate in a rigorous and clearly articulated way and has led to new areas of exploration for the discipline.

— Timothy Junio and Thomas Mahnken, Conceiving of Future War: The Promise of Scenario Analysis for International Relations (2013)

• —; Hoffmann, Stanley; Keohane, Robert O. (1990). "Back to the Future, Part II: International Relations Theory and Post-Cold War Europe". International Security. 15 (2): 191–199. doi:10.2307/2538869. ISSN   0162-2889. JSTOR   2538869.
• —; Risse-Kappen, Thomas; Russett, Bruce M. (1990). "Back to the Future, Part III: Realism and the Realities of European Security". International Security. 15 (3): 216–222. doi:10.2307/2538912. ISSN   0162-2889. JSTOR   2538912.
• — (1990). "After the Cold War: Will We Miss It?". Current History . 327: 30–41. ISSN   0011-3530.
• —; Shapley, Deborah (1993). "McNamara's War" (PDF). Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. 49 (6): 49–51. doi:10.1080/00963402.1993.11456373. ISSN   0096-3402.
• — (1994). "The False Promise of International Institutions" (PDF). International Security. 19 (3): 5–49. doi:10.2307/2539078. ISSN   0162-2889. JSTOR   2539078.
• — (1995). "A Realist Reply". International Security. 20 (1): 82–93. doi:10.2307/2539218. ISSN   0162-2889. JSTOR   2539218.
  • This article was Mearsheimer's defense of his The False Promise of International Institutions.
• — (1998). "The Aims of Education" (PDF). Philosophy and Literature . 22 (1): 137–155. ISSN   0190-0013. cite-14
• — (1998). "Mearsheimer's Response: "Teaching Morality at the Margins"" (PDF). Philosophy and Literature. 22 (1): 193–198. ISSN   0190-0013.
• —; Walt, Stephen M. (2003). "Can Saddam be Contained? History Says Yes" (PDF). Foreign Policy Bulletin. 14 (1): 219–224. doi:10.1017/S1052703600006109. ISSN   1052-7036.
• — (June 2006). "Author's Response: Will China and the United States Clash?". Issues & Studies. 39 (2): 259–262. ISSN   1013-2511.
  • This article was Mearsheimer's defense of his book, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics.
• —; Rogers, Paul; Little, Richard; Hill, Christopher; Brown, Chris; Booth, Jen (2005). "Roundtable: The Battle Rages On". International Relations . 19 (3): 337–360. doi:10.1177/0047117805055411. ISSN   0047-1178.
• — (2005). "E.H. Carr vs. Idealism: The Battle Rages On" (PDF). International Relations. 19 (2): 139–152. doi:10.1177/0047117805052810. eISSN   1741-2862.
• — (2006). "China's Unpeaceful Rise" (PDF). Current History. 105 (690): 160–162. doi:10.1525/curh.2006.105.690.160. ISSN   0011-3530.
• —; Walt, Stephen M. "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy" (PDF). London Review of Books . 28 (6) (1st ed.): 3–12. ISSN   0260-9592. Revised version published as —; Walt, Stephen M. (2006-09-14). "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy". Middle East Policy . 13 (3) (2nd ed.): 29–87. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4967.2006.00260.x. ISSN   1061-1924. Spanish translation published as —; Walt, Stephen M. (2006). "O Lobby de Israel". Novos Estudos CEBRAP (76): 43–73. doi: 10.1590/S0101-33002006000300003 . eISSN   1980-5403. cite-400
  • The article was presented before the National Press Club the year of its publication. ^[18] In response to widespread criticism, the authors published a response as —; Walt, Stephen M. (2006-12-12). "Setting the Record Straight: A Response to Critics of "The Israel Lobby"" (PDF).
• — (2008). "Rivalry in the Offing" (PDF). China Security. 4 (2): 9–10. ISSN   1935-5564.
• — (2008). "The US Should Act as an Honest Broker" (PDF). Palestine-Israel Journal . 15 (1–2): 147–152. ISSN   0793-1395.
• —; Walt, Stephen M. (2009-02-12). "Is it love or the lobby? Explaining America's special relationship with Israel". Security Studies . 18 (1): 58–78. doi:10.1080/09636410802678031. eISSN   1556-1852.
• —; Walt, Stephen M. (2009-05-15). "The Blind Man and the Elephant in the Room: Robert Lieberman and the Israel Lobby". Perspectives on Politics . 7 (2): 259–273. doi:10.1017/S1537592709090781. ISSN   1537-5927.
• — (2009-06-24). "Reckless States and Realism" (PDF). International Relations. 23 (2): 241–256. doi:10.1177/0047117809104637. ISSN   0047-1178.
• — (2010). "Why is Europe Peaceful Today" (PDF). European Political Science . 9 (3): 387–397. doi:10.1057/eps.2010.24. eISSN   1682-0983.
• — (2010-12-08). "Gathering Storm: China's Challenge to US Power in Asia" (PDF). The Chinese Journal of International Politics . 3 (4): 381–396. doi:10.1093/cjip/poq016.
• — (2011). "Realists as Idealists" (PDF). Security Studies. 20 (3): 424–430. doi:10.1080/09636412.2011.599190. eISSN   1556-1852.
• —; Walt, Stephen M. (2013-09-05). "Leaving theory behind: Why simplistic hypothesis testing is bad for International Relations" (PDF). European Political Science. 19 (3): 427–457. doi:10.1177/1354066113494320. eISSN   1682-0983.
• — (2016-03-01). "A Global Discipline of IR? Benign Hegemony". International Studies Review . 18 (1): 147–149. doi:10.1093/isr/viv021. ISSN   1521-9488. JSTOR   24758344.
• — (2016). "Defining a New Security Architecture for Europe that Brings Russia in from the Cold". Military Review . 96 (3): 27–31. ISSN   0026-4148.
• — (2017). "The False Promise of International Institutions". International Organization . 19 (3): 5–49. doi:10.2307/2539078. ISSN   1531-5088. JSTOR   2539078.
• — (2019-04-01). "Bound to Fail: The Rise and Fall of the Liberal International Order". International Security. 43 (4): 7–50. doi:10.1162/isec_a_00342. eISSN   1531-4804.
  • Also delivered in lecture form at the Centre for Independent Studies, which on account of being widely viewed is sometimes cited instead. ^{[19] [20]} John Ikenberry debated the article with Mearsheimer in 2021. ^[21]
• — (2019-07-01). "Realism and Restraint". Horizons: Journal of International Relations and Sustainable Development (14): 12–31. ISSN   2406-0402. JSTOR   48573725.
• — (2021). "Liberalism and Nationalism in Contemporary America" (PDF). PS: Political Science & Politics . 54 (1): 1–8. doi:10.1017/S1049096520001808. ISSN   1537-5935.
• — (2022-07-01). "The Causes and Consequences of the Ukraine War" (PDF). Horizons: Journal of International Relations and Sustainable Development (21): 12–27. ISSN   2406-0402.
  • Also delivered in lecture form at The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, sometimes cited instead on account of its over 4 million views. ^[22] To that lecture, the director of the EUI, political scientist Alexander Stubb who was also the president of Finland at the time, published a critical response. ^[23] Two political scientists from the same institute had already published a brief critique, mainly of his theories on the role of NATO. ^[24] Another EUI political scientist followed up Stubb's video with his own critique. ^[25]
• — (2023). "Cracks in the Liberal Edifice" (PDF). Military Review: 115–152. ISSN   0026-4148.
• — (2025-05-01). "War and International Politics". International Security. 49 (4): 7–36. doi:10.1162/isec_a_00507. ISSN   0162-2889.

Magazine and newspaper articles

• — (1991-02-08). "Liberation in Less Than a Week". The New York Times . p. A31. ISSN   0362-4331.
• — (1991-12-28). "Opinion: Professor's Own Nazi Past Accuses Her; Apology Sought". The New York Times. p. A18. ISSN   0362-4331.
• —; Miller, Steven E. (1993). "Should Ukraine Stay Nuclear? A Debate". Foreign Affairs . Vol. 72. pp. 239–261. ISSN   0015-7120.
• — (1993-03-31). "Shrink Bosnia to Save It". The New York Times. p. A23. ISSN   0362-4331.
• —; Pape, Robert A. (1993-06-14). "The Answer" (PDF). The New Republic . Vol. 203. pp. 22–27. ISSN   0028-6583.
• — (1993). "The Case for a Ukrainian Nuclear Deterrent" (PDF). Foreign Affairs. pp. 50–66. ISSN   0015-7120.
• —; Van Evera, Stephen (1995-12-18). "When Peace Means War: The partition that dare not speak its name" (PDF). The New Republic. Vol. 18. pp. 16–21. ISSN   0028-6583.
• —; van Evera, Stephen (1996-09-24). "Opinion: Hateful Neighbors". The New York Times. p. A25. ISSN   0362-4331.
• —; Van Evera, Stephen (1996-09-25). "Partition is the Inevitable Solution for Bosnia". International Herald Tribune . p. 6. ISSN   0294-8052.
• — (1997-10-07). "The Only Exit from Bosnia". The New York Times. No. 7. p. A31. ISSN   0362-4331.
• — (1997-10-08). "Since Dayton Is Doomed, Get On With the Partition of Bosnia". International Herald Tribune. p. 10. ISSN   0294-8052.
• — (1998-10-19). "A Peace Agreement That's Bound to Fail". The New York Times. p. A17. ISSN   0362-4331.
• —; Van Evera, Stephen (1999-04-19). "Redraw the Map, Stop the Killing". The New York Times. No. 19. p. A23. ISSN   0362-4331.
• — (2000-03-24). "India Needs the Bomb". The New York Times. No. 24. p. A21. ISSN   0362-4331.
• — (2001-01-11). "The Impossible Partition". The New York Times. No. 11. p. A25. ISSN   0362-4331.
• — (2001-11-04). "Guns Won't Win the Afghan War". The New York Times. No. 4. p. 13. ISSN   0362-4331.
• — (2001). "The Future of the American Pacifier". Foreign Affairs. Vol. 80, no. 5. p. 46. doi:10.2307/20050250. ISSN   0015-7120. JSTOR   20050250.
  • Criticised by Vojtech Mastny in a letter to Foreign Affairs. ^[26]
• — (2002). "Hearts and Minds". The National Interest . No. 69. pp. 13–16. ISSN   0884-9382.
• — (2002-02-08). "Liberal Talk, Realist Thinking". University of Chicago Magazine . Vol. 94, no. 3. pp. 24–38. ISSN   0041-9508.
• —; Walt, Stephen M. (2003). "An Unnecessary War" (PDF). Foreign Policy . pp. 50–59. ISSN   0015-7228.
• —; Walt, Stephen M. (2003-02-02). "Keeping Saddam Hussein in a Box" (PDF). The New York Times. No. 2. p. 54. ISSN   0362-4331. cite-57
• — (2005). "Better to be Godzilla than Bambi". Foreign Policy. No. 146. pp. 47–48. ISSN   0015-7228. JSTOR   30048171.
• — (2005). "Showing the United States the Door". Foreign Policy. No. 146. p. 49. ISSN   0015-7228. JSTOR   30048173.
• — (2005). "It's Not a Pretty Picture". Foreign Policy. No. 146. p. 50. ISSN   0015-7228. JSTOR   30048175.
• — (2005-05-18). "Hans Morgenthau and the Iraq war: realism versus neo-conservatism". openDemocracy . eISSN   1476-5888.
• — (2005-11-18). "The Rise of China Will not be Peaceful at All" (PDF). The Australian . Vol. 18, no. 11. ISSN   1038-8761.
  • Not to be confused with its dlivery in the form of a lecture at the University of Ottawa, widely viewed. ^[27]
• —; Walt, Stephen M. (2006). "Unrestricted Access: What the Israel Lobby Wants, It Too Often Gets". Foreign Policy. No. 155. pp. 57–58. ISSN   0015-7228. JSTOR   25462064.
• — (2008-12-30). "Pull Those Boots off the Ground". Newsweek . p. 334. ISSN   0028-9604.
• — (2009). "Saving Israel From Itself". The American Conservative . ISSN   1540-966X.
• — (2009). "How Afghanistan went from good war to bad". Newsweek. ISSN   0028-9604.
• — (2009-11-02). "Hollow Victory". Foreign Policy. No. 2. ISSN   0015-7228.
• — (2010). "Afghanistan: No More the Good War" (PDF). Newsweek. ISSN   0028-9604.
• — (2010). "Sinking Ship" (PDF). The American Conservative. pp. 10–12. ISSN   1540-966X.
• — (2010-10-29). "Australians should fear the rise of China" (PDF). The Spectator . No. 2. ISSN   0038-6952.
• — (2010-11-01). "The Best and the Brightest". Foreign Affairs. Vol. 89, no. 6. p. 201. ISSN   0015-7120.
• — (2011). "Imperial by Design" (PDF). The National Interest. No. 111. pp. 16–34. ISSN   0884-9382.
  • Delivered as a lecture at The University of Chicago, sometimes cited instead. ^[28] It was also delivered before Carleton University. ^[29]
• — (2014). "America Unhinged" (PDF). The National Interest. No. 129. pp. 9–30. ISSN   0884-9382.
• — (2014). "Why the Ukraine Crisis Is the West's Fault: The Liberal Delusions That Provoked Putin" (PDF). Foreign Affairs. Vol. 93, no. 5. pp. 77–89. ISSN   0015-7120.
  • A lecture he delivered on this article was viewed over 30 million times on YouTube. ^[30] Critiqued by historian Jeff Rich. ^[31]
• — (2014). "The Burden of Irresponsibility". The National Interest. No. 129. ISSN   0884-9382.
• — (2014-02-25). "Say Goodbye to Taiwan". The National Interest. ISSN   0884-9382.
• — (2014-03-01). "Taiwan's Dire Straits" (PDF). The National Interest. No. 130. pp. 29–39. ISSN   0884-9382.
• — (2014-03-13). "Getting Ukraine Wrong". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331.
• — (2014). "How the West Caused the Ukraine Crisis". Foreign Affairs. Vol. 93, no. 5. ISSN   0015-7120.
• — (2014-10-17). "Faulty Powers: Who Started the Ukraine Crisis?". Foreign Affairs. Vol. 93, no. 6. pp. 167–178. ISSN   0015-7120.
  • Criticised by Michael McFaul ^[32] and Stephen Sestanovich ^[33] in the same edition, including a response from Mearsheimer. ^[34] Their criticism was in turn critiqued by Susan Eisenhower. ^[35]
• — (2014-10-25). "Can China Rise Peacefully?". The National Interest. Vol. 25, no. 1. pp. 1–40. ISSN   0884-9382.
  • Delivered in lecture format before the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society, ^[36] the University of Chicago ^[37] and Reed College. ^[38] Critiqued by historian Jeff Rich. ^[31]
• — (2015-02-09). "Don't Arm Ukraine". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331.
• —; Walt, Stephen M. (2016-06-13). "The Case for Offshore Balancing: A Superior US Grand Strategy". Foreign Affairs. Vol. 95. ISSN   0015-7120.
• —; Walt, Stephen M. (2019-04-01). "The Influence of AIPAC". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331.
• — (2019-07-01). "Iran Is Rushing to Build a Nuclear Weapon — and Trump Can't Stop It". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331.
• — (2020-12-29). "Joe Biden Must Embrace Liberal Nationalism to Lead America Forward". Russia Matters. Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Originally published in The National Interest .
• — (2021-10-19). "The Inevitable Rivalry: America, China, and the Tragedy of Great-Power Politics". Foreign Affairs. Vol. 100. ISSN   0015-7120.
  • Criticised by John Ikenberry, ^[39] Andrew J. Nathan, ^[40] Susan Thornton ^[41] and Sun Zhe, ^[42] with a response by Mearsheimer. ^[43]
• —; Brzezinski, Zbigniew (2009-10-22). "Clash of the Titans". Foreign Policy. No. 146. pp. 46–47.
• — (2022-03-19). "John Mearsheimer on why the West is principally responsible for the Ukrainian crisis". The Economist . ISSN   0013-0613.
• — (2022-06-23). "The Causes and Consequences of the Ukraine Crisis". The National Interest. ISSN   0884-9382. Originally presented as — (2015-06-04). The Causes and Consequences of the Ukraine Crisis. UChicago Alumni Weekend 2015.
• — (2022-08-17). "Playing With Fire in Ukraine: The Underappreciated Risks of Catastrophic Escalation". Foreign Affairs. ISSN   0015-7120.
• —; Rosato, Sebastian (2023-12-12). "Essence of Decision Making". Foreign Affairs. Vol. 103. ISSN   0015-7120.
• —; Rosato, Sebastian (2024-01-01). "Essence of Decision Making". Foreign Affairs. Vol. 103, no. 1. pp. 173–177. ISSN   0015-7120.

Books

• Conventional Deterrence. Cornell University Press. 1983. ISBN   0801415691.
  • An influential book within the United States Army. Positively reviewed by George E. Orr, ^[44] but less positively by David Calleo. Reviewed by Jed Snyder in 1985. ^[45] It became a combat textbook. ^[46] As a standard reference, it has been extensively employed in works by Corbin Williamson, ^[47] Philip J. Romero, ^[48] and others.
• Liddell Hart and the Weight of History. Cornell University Press. 1988. ISBN   080142089X. OCLC   17953067.
• The Tragedy of Great Power Politics . W.W. Norton & Company. 2001. ISBN   0393020258. OCLC   46678382.
• The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy . Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 2007. ISBN   978-0374177720. OCLC   144227359.
  • The book received mixed reviews, prompting the authors to respond with an article in Prospect . ^[49] After its initial presentation, ^[50] it was presented as a lecture before the Council for the National Interest, ^[51] Code Pink, ^[52] the GBH Forum Network, ^[53] the Center for International and Regional Studies, ^[54] and most prominently at the University of Chicago, sometimes cited instead of the book ^[55] Bruce Feiler debated Mearsheimer on the book in 2018. ^[56]
• Why Leaders Lie: The Truth About Lying in International Politics . Oxford University Press. 2011. ISBN   9780199758739. OCLC   593639329.
  • It grew out of the material from of a 2010 lecture at the Centre for International Governance Innovation. ^[57] The book itself was presented as a lecture viewed over 6 million times on YouTube. ^[58]
• The Great Delusion: Liberal Dreams and International Realities . Yale University Press. 2018. ISBN   978-0300234190.
• Mearsheimer, John J.; Rosato, Sebastian (2023). How States Think: The Rationality of Foreign Policy. Yale University Press. ISBN   9780300269307.
  • Ashley J. Tellis debated Mearsheimer on the book in 2023. ^[59] The book was reviewed by Christoph Rohde. ^[60]

Contributions

• — (1979). "Realism, the real world, and the academy". In Brecher, Michael; Harvey, Frank (eds.). Millennial Reflections on International Studies. University of Michigan Press. pp. 57–64. doi:10.3998/mpub.17045. ISBN   0472112732. JSTOR   10.3998/mpub.17045.
• —; Hardin, Russell (1985). "Introduction". Ethics . 95 (3): 411–423. doi:10.1086/292651. ISSN   0014-1704. Republished in — (1985). Nuclear Deterrence, Ethics and Strategy. University of Chicago Press. ISBN   0226317021.
• — (1992). "Disorder Restored". Rethinking America's Security: Beyond Cold War to New World Order. Norton. pp. 213–137. ISBN   0393962180.
• — (1994-04-07). "Instability in Europe After the Cold War". War. Oxford Readers. ISBN   9780192892546.
• — (1998-10-12). "The Future of America's Continental Commitment". No End to Alliance (The United States and Western Europe: Past, Present and Future). pp. 221–242. doi:10.1007/978-1-349-26959-4_11. ISBN   978-0-333-74080-4.
• — (2000). "The Case for Partitioning Kosovo". NATO's Empty Victory: A Postmortem on the Balkan War. Cato Institute. pp. 133–138. ISBN   188257785X.
• — (2002). "Realism, the Real World, and the Academy". Realism and Institutionalism in International Studies. The University of Michigan Press. pp. 23–33. ISBN   1-282-44458-1.
• — (2004). "Hitler and the Blitzkrieg Strategy". The Use of Force: Military Power and International Politics (6th ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 130–144. ISBN   0742525570.
• — (2005). "Strategies for Survival". Perspectives on World Politics (3rd ed.). Taylor and Francis. pp. 69–79. ISBN   9780415322768.
• — (2011-02-18). "The War on Terrorism". Security Studies . Routledge. pp. 422–426. ISBN   9780415326018.
• — (2013). "Structural Realism". International Relations Theories: Discipline and Diversity (PDF). Oxford University Press. pp. 77–93. ISBN   9780198707561.
  • Because it was widely viewed, some sources cite the lecture instead: Mearsheimer, John J. (2014-10-03). Structural Realism. International Relations. Open University – via YouTube. 9:21.
• — (2014-08-12). "Anarchy and the Struggle for Power". The Realism Reader (PDF). Routledge. pp. 179–187. ISBN   9780415773577.
• — (2015-07-29). "Preface". Routledge Handbook of Latin American Security (1st ed.). pp. x–xi. ISBN   9781315867908.
• — (2015-09-16). "Why We Will Soon Miss the Cold War". Conflict after the Cold War (PDF). Routledge. pp. 28–44. ISBN   9781032010083.
• — (2015-12-31). "Israel and Academic Freedom". Who's Afraid of Academic Freedom?. Columbia University Press. pp. 316–333. ISBN   9780231168816.

Book reviews

• — (June 1990). "John Lehman's Command". Parameters: US Army War College Quarterly . 20 (2): 13–16. doi:10.55540/0031-1723.1564. ISBN   068418995X. ISSN   0031-1723.
  • Review of Lehman, John Francis Jr. (1988). Command of the Seas. Scribner. ISBN   068418995X.
• — (1998). "Review: Political Realism in International Theory". The International History Review . 20 (3): 776–778. ISSN   0707-5332. JSTOR   40101400.
  • Review of Spegele, Roger D. (1996). Political Realism in International Theory. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   9780511586392.
• — (2001-09-01). "Kissinger's Wisdom and Advice". The National Interest. pp. 123–128. ISSN   0884-9382.
  • Review of Kissinger, Henry Alfred (2001). Does America Need A Foreign Policy?: Toward a Diplomacy for the 21st Century. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN   0684855674.
• — (2013). "Has Violence Declined in World Politics?" (PDF). Perspectives on Politics . 11 (2): 570–573. doi:10.1017/S1537592713000170. ISSN   1537-5927.
  • Review of Goldstein, Joshua S. (2011). Winning the War on War: The Decline of Armed Conflict Worldwide. Penguin Publishing. ISBN   9780525952534.

Lectures

• — (2011-05-05). Kissing Cousins: Nationalism and Realism (PDF). Yale Workshop on International Relations. pp. 1–44.
• — (2011-11-24). The Relevance of Realism in the 21st Century: Keynote Speech. IntRpol – via YouTube. Part 1 33:93. Part 2 32:43.
• — (2012-08-08) [recorded 2010-04-29]. The Future of Palestine: Righteous Jews vs the New Afrikaners. The Jerusalem Fund – via YouTube. 1:03:04.
• — (2013-01-20) [recorded 2012-12-11]. The Honorary Patronage of John Mearsheimer: The Future of the Trans-Atlantic Alliance. University Philosophical Society – via YouTube. 49:11.
• — (2013-04-11). The Future of American Landpower. United States Army War College. 1:20:38.
• — (2013-05-08). The Rise of China and the Decline of the US Army. U.S. Army War College XXIV Annual Strategy Conference.
• — (2014-06-10). The Rise of Asia?. Chicago Access Network Television – via YouTube. 1:57:10.
• — (2016-08-27). Vietnam and America: John Mearsheimer Explains Vietnam and America. Max Mearsheimer – via YouTube. 1:11:29.
• — (2016-11-01). Offensive Realism in explaining the current and future US-China relations. Moscow State Institute of International Relations – via YouTube. 1:50:19.
• — (2017-03-28) [recorded 2017-03-24]. Changes in the Israel Lobby. Washington Report on Middle East Affairs – via YouTube. 42:54.
• — (2017-06-30). On the World Order. Dialogue of Civilizations – via YouTube.
• — (2017-11-22). The Roots of Liberal Hegemony. Henry L. Stimson Lectures on World Affairs. Yale University – via YouTube. 53:33.
• — (2017-11-22). The False Promise of Liberal Hegemony. Henry L. Stimson Lectures on World Affairs. Yale University – via YouTube. 1:23:42.
• — (2018-04-17) [recorded 2018-04-13]. American International Relations Theory: Its Influence at Home and Abroad. The Danish Foreign Policy Society – via YouTube. 1:47:12.
• — (2018-11-05) [recorded 2018-10-31]. The Future of NATO in the Age of Trump. Romania Energy Center – via YouTube. 1:59:00.
• — (2019-03-21). Theory and Practice of Security Conference: Keynote. Georgetown University Center for Security Studies – via YouTube. 1:16:56.
• — (2019-08-07). The liberal international order. Centre for Independent Studies – via YouTube. 54:15.
• — (2022-12-05). Great Power Politics in the 21st Century & The Implications for Hungary. Századvég Alapítvány – via YouTube. 1:47:21.
• — (2023-05-24) [presented 2023-05-22]. Where is the Ukraine War Going?. Committee for the Republic – via YouTube. 1:33:46.
• — (2023-10-30). Israel-Hamas, Ukraine-Russia and China: John Mearsheimer on why the US is in serious trouble!. Centre for Independent Studies – via YouTube.
  • Rereleased as Why Israel is in deep trouble. Centre for Independent Studies. 2024-05-17 – via YouTube. 46:77. Niall Ferguson gave a rebuttal talk the following year. ^[61]
• — (2024-02-13). War and International Politics: John Mearsheimer. 2023-24 NDISC Seminar Series. NDISC – via YouTube. 1:30:40.
• — (2025-02-27). Israel and Nuclear Weapons: A Talk with John Mearsheimer. The Social Sciences Division of the Chicago Forum Student Advisory Board. The Chicago Forum for Free Inquiry and Expression – via YouTube. 1:28:17.
• — (2025-05-31) [recorded 2025-03-18]. Liberal Hegemony and the Present Crisis in U.S. Foreign Policy. Agora Speakers Series. Swarthmore Conservative Studies – via YouTube. 1:46:11.

References

1. Munro, André (2025-02-16). "John J. Mearsheimer: American scholar". Britannica.
2. Gruber, Anton; Tekles, Alexander; Bornmann, Lutz (2023-05-18). "John Mearsheimer's academic roots: a reference publication year spectroscopy of a political scientist's oeuvre". Scientometrics. 128 (1): 3867–3877. doi: 10.1007/s11192-023-04721-6 . eISSN   1588-2861. On the one hand, the publication years in which Mearsheimer derived his fundamental theory of International Relations can be inferred. On the other hand, later years show his subsequent thematic focuses and his preoccupation with current events and conflicts.
3. Gouré, Daniel; McCormick, Gordon (1980). "Debate on precision-guided munitions: PGM: No Panacea)". Survival. 22 (1): 15–19. doi:10.1080/00396338008441859. ISSN   0039-6338.
4. Mearsheimer, John J. (1980). "Debate on precision-guided munitions: Rejoinder". Survival. 22 (1): 20–22. doi:10.1080/00396338008441860. ISSN   0039-6338.
5. Mandel, Robert (2004). "The Wartime Utility of Precision Versus Brute Force in Weaponry". Armed Forces and Society. 30 (2): 171–201. doi:10.1177/0095327X0403000203. ISSN   0095-327X. JSTOR   48608627.
6. Blagden, David (2020-10-12). "Strategic stability and the proliferation of conventional precision strike: a (bounded) case for optimism?" . The Nonproliferation Review. 27 (1–3): 123–136. doi:10.1080/10736700.2020.1799569. ISSN   1073-6700.
7. Kahn, Lauren; Horowitz, Michael C. (2022-07-11). "Who Gets Smart? Explaining How Precision Bombs Proliferate" . Journal of Conflict Resolution. 67 (1): 3–37. doi:10.1177/00220027221111143. eISSN   1552-8766.
8. Posen, Barry R. (1985). "Measuring the European Conventional Balance: Coping with Complexity in Threat Assessment". International Security. 9 (3). ISSN   0162-2889.
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12. Lauer, G. S. "Maneuver Warfare Theory and The Operational Level of War: Misguiding The Marine Corps?". Fort Leavenworth: School of Advanced Military Studies, United States Army Command and General Staff College.
13. McKeown, Alex Raymond (1990). An Analysis of the Conventional Military Balance on the European Central Front: Some Implications for NATO Strategy and Tactics (Thesis). Madison: University of Wisconsin.
14. • Rutland, L. W. (2012). Culminate and Counter: The Operational Art in the Defensive (PDF) (Thesis). Canadian Forces College.
    • Campbell, Peter P. (2014). "Hypothetical 4 – Military Realism and Operations 1976 to 1986". The essence of war and military doctrine: Military Realism and US Army warfighting doctrine from 1960 to 2008 (Thesis). University of Notre Dame. pp. 186–188.
    • Kofroň, Jan; Kruntorádová, Ilona (2016). "Reflexe českého metodologického vzdělávání: Odpověď Jakubu Záhorovi". Mezinárodní vztahy. 51 (3): 84–92. eISSN   2570-9429.
    • Pedroso Mendes, Flávio (2019). "A construção do compromisso: a presença militar dos EUA na Europa durante a Guerra Fria" [The Making of Commitment: US Military Presence in Europe During the Cold War]. Revista da Escola de Guerra Naval. 25 (1): 587–612. doi: 10.21544/1809-3191.v25n3.p587-612 . eISSN   2359-3075.
15. Epstein, Joshua M. (1989). "The 3:1 Rule, the Adaptive Dynamic Model, and the Future of Security Studies". International Security. 13 (4): 90–127. doi:10.2307/2538781. ISSN   0162-2889. JSTOR   2538781.
16. Kress, Moshe; Talmor, Irit (1999-07-14). "A new look at the 3:1 rule of combat through Markov Stochastic Lanchester models". Journal of the Operational Research Society. 50 (7): 733–744. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jors.2600758. ISSN   0160-5682.
17. Junio, Timothy J.; Mahnken, Thomas G. (2013-09-17). "Conceiving of Future War: The Promise of Scenario Analysis for International Relations". International Studies Review. 15 (3): 374–395. doi:10.1111/misr.12061. ISSN   1521-9488.
18. — (2006-10-30) [recorded 2006-08-28]. Prof. John Mearsheimer on the Israel Lobby. National Press Club, Bill Hughes – via YouTube.
19. Mearsheimer, John J. (2019-08-07). The liberal international order. Centre for Independent Studies – via YouTube. 54:15.
20. Mearsheimer, John J. (2022-06-23). "The Causes and Consequences of the Ukraine War". Russia Matters.
21. Mearsheimer, John J.; Ikenberry, Gilford John (2021-02-02). The Future of the Liberal International Order. The Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership – via YouTube.
22. Mearsheimer, John J. (2022-06-16). The causes and consequences of the Ukraine war. The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies – via YouTube. 2:07:15.
23. Stubb, Cai-Göran Alexander (2022-06-08). Why Mearsheimer is wrong about Russia and the war in Ukraine: Five arguments from Alexander Stubb. Understanding the War – via YouTube.
24. Anghel, Veronica; Stolle, Dietlind (2022-06-28). "In praise of reality, not realism: An answer to Mearsheimer". EUIdeas.
25. Kostelka, Filip (2022-07-11). "John Mearsheimer's lecture on Ukraine: Why he is wrong and what are the consequences". EUIdeas.
26. Mastny, Vojtech (2001-11-01). "A Different World". Foreign Affairs. ISSN   0015-7120.
27. Mearsheimer, John J. (2018-11-22) [recorded 2012-10-17]. Why China Cannot Rise Peacefully. University of Ottawa – via YouTube. 1:30:45.
28. Mearsheimer, John J. (2011-08-02). Imperial by Design. The University of Chicago – via YouTube. 45:39.
29. Mearsheimer, John J. (2013-03-07) [recorded 2012-10-18]. America's Imperial Impulse. Political Science Speaker Series. Carleton University – via YouTube. 51:03.
30. Mearsheimer, John J. (2015-09-25). Why is Ukraine the West's Fault?. The University of Chicago – via YouTube. 1:14:15.
31. Rich, Jeff (2024-08-09). Why John Mearsheimer is wrong about realism, great power politics and history. The Burning Archive– via YouTube. 31:29.
32. McFaul, Michael Anthony (2014-10-17). "Moscow's Choice" (PDF). Foreign Affairs. Vol. 93, no. 6. pp. 167–171. ISSN   0015-7120.
33. Sestanovich, Stephen (2014-10-17). "How the West Has Won" (PDF). Foreign Affairs. Vol. 93, no. 6. pp. 171–175. ISSN   0015-7120.
34. Mearsheimer, John J. (2014-10-17). "Mearsheimer Replies" (PDF). Foreign Affairs. Vol. 93, no. 6. pp. 175–178. ISSN   0015-7120.
35. Eisenhower, Susan Elaine (2015-09-01). "Perils of cornering Russia". United States Studies Centre .
36. Mearsheimer, John J. (2011-11-04). Can China Rise Peacefully?. Jefferson Literary and Debating Society – via YouTube. Part 1. Part 2. 1:20:34.
37. Mearsheimer, John J. (2013-12-18). Can China Rise Peacefully?. Harper Lectures. The University of Chicago – via YouTube. 1:21:47.
38. Mearsheimer, John J. (2024-05-02) [delivered 2024-04-16]. Can China Rise Peacefully?. Public Policy Lecture Series. Reed College – via YouTube. 1:24:41.
39. Ikenberry, John (2022-02-11). "The Real Liberal Bet" (PDF). Foreign Affairs. ISSN   0015-7120.
40. Nathan, Andrew James (2022-02-11). "The China Threat in Perspective" (PDF). Foreign Affairs. ISSN   0015-7120.
41. Ashton Thornton, Susan (2022-02-11). "The Barriers to War" (PDF). Foreign Affairs. ISSN   0015-7120.
42. Zhe, Sun (2022-02-11). "In Search of a Strategy" (PDF). Foreign Affairs. ISSN   0015-7120.
43. Mearsheimer, John J. (2022-02-11). "Mearsheimer Replies" (PDF). Foreign Affairs. ISSN   0015-7120.
44. Orr, George E. (July 1983). "Effective Command of Combat Operations". Combat Operations C³I: Fundamentals and Interactions. Airpower Research Institute, Air University Press, 4th printing. pp. 90–113. ISBN   1585661023.
45. Snyder, Jed C. (1985). "Review: Conventional Deterrence". Naval War College Review. 38 (3): 111–112. ISSN   0028-1484.
46. Mäki-Ullakko, Ilkka (2023). Contribution of Military Logistics to Conventional Deterrence in the Case of Ukraine (Thesis). hdl:1969.1/6465.
47. Williamson, Corbin (April 2008). Factors Affecting the Feasibility of a Warsaw Pact Invasion of Western Europe (Thesis). Texas A&M University.
48. Romero, Philip J. (1991). A New Approach for the Design and Evaluation of Land Defense Concepts (PDF). ISBN   0-8330-0936-2.
49. Mearsheimer, John J.; Walt, Stephen M. (2008-05-23). "Our lobby, his lobby: The Israel Lobby authors reply to Gershom Gorenberg's criticisms in the last issue of Prospect". Prospect. eISSN   2059-6731.
50. Mearsheimer, John J. (2007-12-20). Iraq, the Neocons and the Israel Lobby. FORA.tv – via YouTube. 6:24.
51. Mearsheimer, John J. (2008-05-29). On AIPAC and Congress. Council for the National Interest, Bill Hughes – via YouTube. Part 1. Part 2. 16:57.
52. Mearsheimer, John J. (2011-05-27). Professor John Mearsheimer Speaks at Move Over AIPAC. Code Pink – via YouTube. Part 1. Part 2. 25:28.
53. Mearsheimer, John J.; Walt, Stephen (2012-08-13) [recorded 2007-10-29]. John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt - The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy. GBH Forum Network – via YouTube. 1:21:32.
54. Mearsheimer, John J.; Walt, Stephen (2012-12-02) [recorded 2008-06-17]. The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy. Center for International and Regional Studies – via YouTube. 38:05.
55. Mearsheimer, John J. (2015-08-28). The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy. The University of Chicago – via YouTube. 1:21:11.
56. Mearsheimer, John J.; Feiler, Bruce (2018-04-05). Debating the Israel Lobby. Nonzero. Bloggingheads.tv. 1:10:22.
57. Mearsheimer, John J. (2010-09-23). Lying in International Politics. Centre for International Governance Innovation – via YouTube. 1:35:33.
58. Mearsheimer, John J. (2012-03-01). Why Leaders Lie: The Truth About Lying in International Politics with John Mearsheimer. The University of Chicago – via YouTube. 1:25:46.
59. Mearsheimer, John J.; Tellis, Ashley J. (2023-10-03). How States Think: The Rationality of Foreign Policy. The Cato Institute – via YouTube. 1:31:54.
60. Rohde, Christoph (2025-03-08). "Review: Mearsheimer, J., & Rosato, S. (2023). How States Think. The Rationality of Foreign Policy. New Haven: Yale University Press. 280 S., ISBN: 978-0300279870, ca. € 28,–". Zeitschrift für Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik. 18: 405–407. doi:10.1007/s12399-025-01032-x. eISSN   1866-2196.
61. Ferguson, Niall Campbell (2024-10-31). John Mearsheimer refuted? Don't Underestimate the China-Russia-Iran Axis. Centre for Independent Studies – via YouTube.

External links

• Publications at his official website