Author: John Mearsheimer

From John Mearsheimer’s YouTube Channel:

Foreign Policy expert John Mearsheimer on the current state of the Ukraine-Russian War.

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John Mearsheimer is the Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and one of the leading foreign policy scholars in America. Here’s what he has to say to you.

Dear Antiwar.com Reader,

One would think that in a venerable liberal democracy like the United States, there would be open and free-wheeling debate in the mainstream media about the key foreign policy issues of the day. One would certainly think that would be the case given the recent debacles in Afghanistan and Iraq, not to mention the unfolding debacle in Ukraine.

But sadly, that is not the case. There is a deeply entrenched and constricted narrative about American foreign policy that dominates the commanding heights in both the Democratic and Republican parties and is also found in virtually every corner of the mainstream media. Moreover, the White House and the deep state have become adept at shaping that narrative, in good part by making it difficult for opponents to challenge it. There is little reason to think this situation will change anytime soon.

This means that we need alternative media more than ever. We need a variety of first-rate outlets that invite dissent and help foster a vibrant marketplace of ideas. The reason is simple. All countries sometimes pursue foolish if not reckless policies, as the United States has demonstrated in recent years. One of the best ways to avoid disastrous policies is to have serious public debates where dissenters have free rein to speak truth to power. After all, isn’t this the core reason why freedom of speech and freedom of the press are enshrined in the constitution?

This is where Antiwar.com comes into the story. It plays a critical role in spreading the views of individuals who are bent on challenging the conventional wisdom. It is a platform for dissenters, which the United States – and the West more generally – need more than ever.

In my experience, some people identify dissent with unpatriotic behavior. Purveyors of the conventional wisdom tend to make that argument. The clear implication is that we are supposed to support our government no matter what. As the saying goes, “My country, right or wrong.” Such a view is wrongheaded and dangerous. A true patriot should challenge American policy when he or she thinks that it is likely to do the country harm. It makes no sense to remain silent and let your country pursue a policy that you think will have disastrous consequences. Of course, the problem we face today is that it is hard for dissenters to get their voice heard in the mainstream media. In short, it is difficult to act responsibly.

That’s where Antiwar.com comes in. If you care about the welfare of the United States and want to make it a better country, please give generously to Antiwar.com.

Sincerely,
John Mearsheimer

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John Mearsheimer is the Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago and one of the leading foreign policy scholars in America. Here’s what he has to say to you.

Dear Antiwar.com Reader,

Countries’ governments sometimes pursue foolish foreign policies with disastrous consequences. Liberal democracies are not immune from this danger. I came of age during the Vietnam war, which was one of the greatest strategic blunders in American history. Since then, the United States has made further blunders, the Iraq war being the most prominent. And now there is the Ukraine conflict, which threatens to escalate into a nuclear war.

There is no guaranteed way to avoid foreign policy errors. But the best way to minimize the chances of getting into serious trouble is to debate these issues openly, so that critics of the conventional wisdom of government policy can have their say. Media institutions are hugely important in fostering this kind of debate, which is why freedom of the press is so protected in the United States. It allows critics to make their views known to large numbers of people and it provides legitimacy. Critics of existing policy are not always right, but sometimes they speak truth to power and help us avoid or correct big mistakes.

Unfortunately, the mainstream media in the United States have become much less effective since the Cold War ended. Dissenters have trouble getting a platform in prominent media outlets, and mainstream media outlets often seem to speak with one voice on the big foreign policy issues of the day. This situation is not healthy.

Antiwar.com plays an important role in filling this dangerous void in our public discourse. It provides a platform for critics to challenge the reigning views of the foreign policy establishment, which is essential for increasing the likelihood that the United States will pursue wiser policies. For that reason, I urge readers to generously support Antiwar.com. In these troubled times, a flourishing Antiwar.com is very much in the U.S. national interest.

Sincerely,
John Mearsheimer

Please support Antiwar.com by making a tax-deductible donation

From The Spectator:

Freddy Gray speaks to Professor John Mearsheimer, American political scientist and international relations scholar about America’s foreign policy on the war in Ukraine.

Dear Antiwar.com Reader,

Countries’ governments sometimes pursue foolish foreign policies with disastrous consequences. Liberal democracies are not immune from this danger. I came of age during the Vietnam war, which was one of the greatest strategic blunders in American history. Since then, the United States has made further blunders, the Iraq war being the most prominent. And now there is the Ukraine conflict, which threatens to escalate into a nuclear war.

There is no guaranteed way to avoid foreign policy errors. But the best way to minimize the chances of getting into serious trouble is to debate these issues openly, so that critics of the conventional wisdom or government policy can have their say. Media institutions are hugely important in fostering this kind of debate, which is why freedom of the press is so protected in the United States. It allows critics to make their views known to large numbers of people and it provides legitimacy. Critics of existing policy are not always right, but sometimes they speak truth to power and help us avoid or correct big mistakes.

Unfortunately, the mainstream media in the United States has become much less effective since the Cold War ended. It has become increasingly difficult for dissenters to get a platform in prominent media outlets, and mainstream media outlets often seem to speak with one voice on the big foreign policy issues of the day. This situation is not healthy, and it helps explains why America’s standing in the world has declined over the past three decades.

Antiwar.com plays an enormously important role in filling this dangerous void in our public discourse. It provides a platform for critics to challenge the reigning views of the foreign policy establishment, which is essential for increasing the likelihood that the United States will pursue wiser policies. For this reason, I urge readers to generously support Antiwar.com. In these troubled times, a flourishing Antiwar.com is very much in the U.S. national interest.

Sincerely,
John Mearsheimer*

Please make your tax-deductible donation today.

*John J. 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.